358 NEW LAND. 



and we distributed them equally on our sledges, making thereby 

 a very considerable addition to the weight of the loads. 



The plan which we decided on was as follows : Baumann and 

 his party were to go to Bjorneborg, pick up Schei and Peder's 

 equipment, and accompany them a while north of the sound. 

 Schei was first to examine the islands which we had seen from 

 Fourth Camp, and then, together with Peder, travel on up the coast, 

 north of the islands and land on the east side of the bay. The 

 object of Schei's expedition was a scientific investigation of the 

 country to be made in his capacity as geologist of the expedition ; 

 while to his duties in his own line were added, on this journey, 

 those of botanist. 



After Baumann had done this he was to return with his party 

 to the ' Fram,' and in May, make a journey to Fourth Camp or 

 Land's End to take a series of observations. He was also, if 

 possible, to try to discover whether there was any reasonable 

 way by which we could cross the land from one or other of the 

 fjords we had passed west of Bjorneborg, for we knew that it 

 would be impossible to get through Hell Gate at the time of year 

 when we should be on our return journey. In the hope of there 

 being sufficient open water in the sound, in the month of May, for 

 him to be able to dredge, he was to drive the boat thither from 

 Baadsfjord, and about May 20 fetch the sledge-expeditions on the 

 north side of the sound. If there were no chance of being able to 

 make use of the boat, he was to drive it to the ' Fram.' In both 

 cases he was to build a cairn at Land's End, and leave a record there 

 to say whether the sledging expeditions had been fetched with the 

 boat, or if a passable land way had been discovered. 



About half-past nine in the forenoon we were at last ready to 

 start in our respective directions. The four of us who were going 

 on the long journey, continued westward, towards a black wall of 

 rock on which we were now steering, while the others retraced 

 their steps. 



We had with us a bottle of brandy for the purpose of 

 drinking to our departure. It was now brought out, and we all 

 presented our cups for our due share of the liquid. The 

 mate, who drew the cork, and was about to pour out the drams, 



