216 THE SIEGE OF THE NORTH POLE 



along with five of their companions who were to accom- 

 pany them a short distance. During the first day, 

 however, one of the sledges broke down seriously, and the 

 whole party returned to the ship, so that all the sledges 

 might be strengthened. 



On 28th February a start was again made, with six 

 sledges instead of four. A broad board was fitted length- 

 wise to the sledge, underneath the cross-bars, so as to 

 protect them against projecting pieces of ice. They had 

 not proceeded far from the ship when Nansen came to the 

 conclusion that the load was too heavy, and several sacks 

 with food for the dogs were left behind. On the 3rd of 

 March, Nansen again decided to return to the ship. The 

 progress made with six sledges was unsatisfactory, and the 

 cold was severe. 



On the 14th of March they left the From for the third 

 and last time. As regards clothing, Nansen had on the 

 upper part of the body two woollen shirts ; outside these 

 a camel's-hair coat, and last of all a thick rough jersey. 

 Instead of the jersey, Johansen wore an " anorak " of thick 

 homespun, provided with a hood. On the legs they had, 

 next the skin, woollen drawers, and over these knicker- 

 bockers and loose gaiters of close Norwegian homespun. 

 To protect them from wind and fine-driven snow, they 

 wore a suit made of a thin, close kind of cotton canvas, 

 and consisting of an upper garment to pull over the head, 

 provided with a hood, and a lower one in the shape of a 

 pair of wide overalls. Instead of wearing long stockings, 

 Nansen preferred to use loose stocking-legs and socks, as 

 these were more easily dried on the chest when asleep at 

 night. For travelling over snow in a low temperature, 

 Nansen recommends Finn shoes. They are warm and 

 strong, are always flexible, and very easy to put on and 

 take off. They must, however, be made of the skin of the 

 hind-legs of the reindeer buck. In milder weather they 



