14G 



THE GERMAN ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



thorn northwards. At half-past twelve the captain, after 

 having uninterruptedly observed the ice and the weather 

 for some time, decided, with the agreement of all the 

 officers, that according to his opinion, the moment had 

 come when they should leave the floe and try to save 



AN ICiCiiEKU. 



themselves by reaching the coast in the boats. But he 

 did not wish to bear the entire responsibility of such an 

 important step, believing that if the abandonment of the 

 floe and the taking to the boats were decided upon with 

 unanimous consent, or at least with that of the majority of 



