CHAPTER XXIV. 



AEDUOUS JOUENEYS. 



THE time for sledge-journeys had come round again, and we 

 equipped ourselves for them with much ardour. It was my 

 intention to drive west to make a depot at as great a distance as 

 possible from the ship, and to move the tent from Baadsfjord out 

 to the new depot, but before that Isachsen was going a trip east- 

 ward to survey the country from Havnefjord to Framsfjord. 



Before we could set off, our boots required a thorough over- 

 hauling, and the provisions had also to be seen to. It was my 

 intention to send six teams west, and two eastward. 



Peder was now beginning to recover, and his spirits were 

 decidedly better ; as a rule, he was able to be up, and he helped 

 to put the plates on the sledge-runners. 



My camping experiences now made me decide to try a lined 

 tent for travelling purposes. I could not help thinking that the 

 difference in weight would be so trifling that it would well repay 

 us, for it was my opinion that with double walls it might be 

 possible to avert some of the moisture, which so greatly increased 

 the weight of our loads on long journeys. 



We worked at our preparations from early morning till 

 late at night, for we were all anxious to be off. Fur clothing, 

 ' finsko,' and all the extra things that are required on a sledge- 

 journey at the cold time of the year, were given out in sufficient 

 quantity. 



Fosheim, Schei, Bay, and I were going to do the actual depot- 

 driving westwards, while Baumann and Stolz were to come with 

 us as far as Baadsfjord, with a load of things to be deposited there. 

 They were then to return to South Cape, to fetch the provisions 



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