272 Chapter VI. 



" I can say all this to myself a thousand times ; I can 

 bring myself to believe honestly that it is all a matter 

 of indifference to me ; but none the less my spirits 

 change like the clouds of heaven according as the 

 wind blows from this direction or from that, or the 

 soundings show the depth to be increasing or not, or 

 the observations indicate a northerly or southerly drift. 

 When I think of the many that trust us, think of 

 Norway, think of all the friends that gave us their 

 time, their faith, and their money, the wish comes that 

 they may not be disappointed, and I grow sombre when 

 our progress is not what we expected it would be. 

 And she that gave most does she deserve that her 

 sacrifice should have been made in vain ? Ah, yes, 

 we must and will succeed ! ' 



" Sunday, December 3rd. Sunday again, with its 

 feeling of peace, and its permission to indulge in the 

 narcotic of happy day-dreams, and let the hours go idly 

 by, without any prickings of conscience. 



"To-day the bottom was not reached with over 

 135^ fathoms (250 m.) of line. There was a north- 

 easterly drift. Yesterday's observation showed us to be 

 in 78 44' north latitude, that is 5' farther north than 

 on Tuesday. It is horribly slow ; but it is forward, and 

 forward we must go ; there can be no question of that." 



"Tuesday, December 5th. --This is the coldest day 

 we have had yet, with the thermometer 31 below 

 zero (- 35'7 C.) and a biting wind from the E.S.E. 



