Second Autumn in the Ice. 505 



But if we are not in first-rate condition, it will be safer 

 to make for Cape Fligely or the land to the north of it. 

 Let us suppose we decide on this route. We set out 

 from the Frain on March ist (if circumstances are 

 favourable, we should start sooner), and therefore arrive 

 at the Pole April 3Oth. We shall have about 500 Ibs. of 

 our provisions left, enough for another 50 days ; but we 

 can spare none for the dogs. We must, therefore, begin 

 killing some of them, either for food for the others or for 

 ourselves, giving our provisions to them. Even if my 

 figures are somewhat too low, I may assume that by the 

 time tw r enty-three dogs have been killed we shall have 

 travelled 41 days, and still have five dogs left. How far 

 south shall we have advanced in this time ? The weight 

 of baggage w r as, to begin with, less than 500 Ibs., that is 

 to say less than 18 Ibs. for each dog to draw. After 

 41 days this will at least have been reduced to 280 Ibs. 

 (by the consumption of provisions and fuel and by dis- 

 pensing- with sundry articles of our equipment, such as 

 sleeping-bags, tent, etc., etc., which will have become 

 superfluous). There remain, then, 56 Ibs. for each of the 

 five dogs, if we draw nothing ourselves ; and should it 

 be desirable, our equipment might be still further 

 diminished. With a burden of from 18 to 56 Ibs. 

 apiece (the latter would only be towards the end), the 

 dogs would on an average be able to do 13^ miles a day, 

 even if the snow-surface should become somewhat more 

 difficult. That is to say, we shall have gone 565 miles 



