MODERN VIKINGS IN THE ARCTIC SEAS 403 



as to complete our knowledge of the Greenland coast, was the object 

 of the intrepid Erickson and his equally brave companions. 



We can only say of this expedition that it was successful in its 

 results, but fatal to the explorers. Their failure to return gave rise 

 to fears of their safety, and searching parties were sent out which 

 found their dead bodies. They had perished from cold and hunger 

 on their return. But in a bottle, attached to the neck of one of the 

 dead heroes, were the full records of their expedition, showing that 

 they had surveyed the whole line of unknown coast and completed 

 the survey of the entire Greenland coast. It was a splendid result, 

 which they had paid for with their lives. 



The course of our narrative now takes us to another Viking 

 enterprise, that led by Captain Sverdrup, of the "Fram," who 

 remained four years in the far north and added greatly to our 

 knowledge of the great group of islands north of the American 

 continent. Of Sverdrup it need only be said that he had been asso- 

 ciated with Nansen in all his enterprises, being one of his com- 

 panions when he crossed South Greenland in 1888 and going with 

 him as captain of the "Fram"' in his great drifting voyage in 

 1893-96. 



Nansen's stout ship had not only survived its encounter with 

 the ice, but was little the worse for its desperate battle with the 

 Arctic floes. With a little renovation it was in order for another 

 voyage to the frozen seas, and in 1898 Sverdrup set out again in the 

 hardy "Fram" on another voyage to the north. The expedition was 

 equipped by private enterprise, Sverdrup's patrons on this occasion 

 being two brothers named Ringnes. 



The expedition in question sailed from Larvick, Norway, on June 

 24, 1898, the day known in Norway as St. Hans Day. The party 

 consisted of sixteen, all told, the plan of operations being to sail along 

 the western coast of Greenland to Smith Sound, where the ship was 

 to push as far north as possible and form a headquarters, whence 

 sledge expeditions were to be sent out in all directions. As to the 



