CHAPTER V 



VOYAGE THROUGH THE KARA SEA. 



IT was well into the night after Christofersen and 

 Trontheim had left us, before we could get away. The 

 channel was too dangerous for us to risk it in the thick 

 fog. But it cleared a little, and the petroleum launch 

 was got ready ; I had determined to go on ahead with 

 it and take soundings. We started about midnight. 

 Hansen stood in the bow with the lead line. First we 

 bore over towards the point of Vaigats to the north- 

 west, as Palander directs, then on through the strait, 

 keeping to the Vaigats side. The fog was often so 

 thick that it was with difficulty we could catch a glimpse 

 of the Frani, which followed close behind us, and on 

 board the Fram they could not see our boat. But so 

 long as we had enough water, and so long as we saw 

 that they were keeping to the right course behind us, we 

 went ahead. Soon the fog cleared again a little. But 

 the depth was not quite satisfactory ; we had been having 

 steadily 4! to 5 fathoms ; then it dropped to 4 and then to 

 This was too little. We turned and signalled to the 



