CHAPTER XXIX. 



CARRYING MEAT IN THE POLAR NIGHT. 



IT was now decided that Baumann, with Eaanes, Stolz, and 

 Hassel, should drive into Moskusfjord to fetch ihe meat that was 

 lying there; when they had met Bay and Isachsen, they were 

 to take one or other of them back as guide, and let one of their 

 own party supply his place. November 2 was a busy day on 

 board, for the four men were to start the next day. The usual fur 

 clothing which we wore on sledge-journeys at the cold time of the 

 year was given out, as well as provisions for nine days, for both 

 men and dogs. 



It was many a long day since a joint of beef had stood on the 

 ' Fram ' dinner- table, and the excellent roast beef which we had 

 that day tasted doubly good in consequence ; in fact, I believe it 

 did its share in making our fellows keen to be off. 



On Friday, November 3, we all met at a six o'clock breakfast. 

 We had a hot breakfast that morning, so that the party who were 

 going off should have something to travel on. They started at 

 half-past seven. 



We, the last-comers on board, began at once to equip for 

 another meat expedition, which we hoped to start on as soon as 

 possible. We worked like galley-slaves, for there were countless 

 things to be seen to ; first and foremost being the getting in hand 

 of our new sledges. Like the party which had just gone off, we 

 intended to have German-silver plates on them all. In addition 

 to these, the sledges had to be provided with loops and ' long 

 lashings/ and seal-skin over the seizings. Peder, who had had a 

 relapse during our absence, but was now well again, helped "Nodtvedt 

 to put the plates on the over-runners of the sledges. Olsen had 



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