BJORNEBORG. 325 



short space of time still remaining, to loosen the plates and solder 

 them on again. We therefore put in order a sledge known as the 

 'water-sledge/ which Fosheim had made the first autumn on 

 board. 



It was now decided that Baumann, Eaanes, Hassel, and Stolz 

 should leave the ship on Saturday, March 17, with full loads, 

 and with Bjorneborg as their destination ; returning thence to the 

 boat-house to fetch provisions and dog-food, which were to be used 

 on the approaching journeys westward. 



With regard to these, our plan was as follows : Isachsen and 

 Hassel were to make one party, Fosheim and I the second, Schei 

 and Peder the third. After we had all met at Bjorneborg, on the 

 evening of March 21, a returning party was to be formed, with 

 Baumann as the leader, and the mate and Stolz as the other 

 members, while Schei and Peder were also at first to be members 

 of the returning party. 



These five were to go with the two aforesaid sledge-parties 

 from Bjorneborg, and keep them in provisions and paraffin for 

 ten days. They were thereupon to return to Bjorneborg, pick up 

 Schei and Peder's equipment, and the three others accompany 

 the two latter west and north as far as should prove desirable. 

 When the returning party again reached Bjorneborg, they were to 

 drive to the ship to fetch more provisions, and subsequently go in 

 to Baadsfjord to fetch the boat which we had left behind us in the 

 autumn. 



Our time was now growing very short, and we had to work 

 both at night and on Sundays. 



Friday, March 16, was Olsen's birthday, which, of course, we 

 wished to keep as well as we could. With regard to eatables and 

 drinkables, everything was perfectly satisfactory ; but the difficulty 

 was to find time in which to consume them. For Olsen himself it 

 was a particularly hard day, as he had several small things to finish 

 for Baumann's party, which was to start the next morning, and 

 this kept him at work all night. 



After a somewhat cold period, with the temperature under 

 - 40 Fahr. (- 40 Cent.), the thermometer began to rise quickly, 

 and I grew anxious lest wet weather should spoil the going in 



