CHAPTER VI 



DEPOT JOURNEYS 



THERE was now too little work for eight of us in 

 bringing up stores from the Fram, and it became 

 evident that some of us might be more usefully em- 

 ployed elsewhere. It was therefore decided that four 

 men should bring ashore the little that remained, while 

 the other four went southward to lat. 80 S., partly to 

 explore the immediate neighbourhood, and partly to 

 begin the transport of provisions to the south. This 

 arrangement gave us all enough to do. The four who 

 were to continue the work at the station Wisting, 

 Hassel, Stubberud, and Bjaaland now had as much 

 as their sledges could carry. The rest of us were busy 

 getting ready. For that matter, everything was pre- 

 pared in advance, but as yet we had had no experience 

 of a long journey. That was what we were going to 

 get now. 



Our departure was fixed for Friday, February 10. 

 On the 9th I went on board to say good-bye, as pre- 

 sumably the Fram would have sailed when we came 

 back. I had so much to thank all these plucky fellows 



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