218 CONQUERING THE ARCTIC ICE 



to keep on a little further towards the north, as we thought it 

 might only be some local depression of the bottom. 



The temperature was 25 C. at our start, wind twelve to 

 fifteen miles an hour. The weather calmed towards nightfall, 

 and the sky was clear. Made at least seven miles northing. 

 Lat. 71 34' N., and depth more than 620 metres. 



Monday, April 8. To make up for time lost at the beginning 

 of the trip we began to prepare breakfast at 4.30 A.M., and at 

 5.30 we were ready to move on. However, we were delayed, 

 as Mr. Lefnngwell's sledge was found to be in such a bad state 

 that we had to relash it temporarily. Shortly after our start 

 we saw a large body of " old ice " and made for it. Before we 

 could reach it we had to cross over about one mile of very thin 

 ice, not more than four to six inches thick, and when we were 

 in the middle of it a motion in the fields on either side caused 

 numerous cracks to appear. ; At the same time the heavier ice 

 closed in, and the floe we Were on split up into all kinds of 

 small pieces. We struck out as hard as we could for the more 

 solid ice, jumping over narrow cracks, pulling hard at the ropes, 

 and encouraging the dogs as much as possible with words and 

 whip. Mr. LeffingwelPs sledge moved very heavily, and as he 

 was last in the procession he had by far the hardest work. 

 The ice opened rapidly under us, his dogs were on the verge of 

 balking a couple of times, and but for his strength, which 

 enabled him to keep the sledge going with very great effort, I 

 think that we would have lost the outfit. Needless to say that 

 we were very pleased when once again we had solid ice under 

 our feet, and we went at a fine speed over the largest floes of 

 ice we have seen as yet. We had to stop for about forty minutes, 

 as Mr. LeffingwelPs sledge again needed repairing, a crossbar 

 having given way, which was not discovered until some time 

 afterwards. We had lost a little food, and while two men 

 repaired the sledge one went back over the trail and picked 

 it up. 



The good going lasted for about two hours, and then the 

 difficulties began afresh. Much chopping and hauling were 

 needed to get the sledges through, but at last we succeeded, 

 after being several times compelled to move a sledge with an 

 " all-men's-pull." It was slow work, and the sledges capsized 

 repeatedly. 





