240 THE SIEGE OF THE NORTH POLE 



The chief and almost only outlet from the Polar Sea is 

 between Greenland and Norway. A comparatively small 

 amount of ice finds its way through Robeson Channel or 

 Behring Strait. The drift of the Jeannette proves that 

 from Behring Strait the set of the ice is towards the west 

 and north-west. Between the longitude of Behring Strait 

 and the longitude of the north-east of Greenland there 

 must somewhere be a dividing-line where it will be easier 

 for the ice to find its way east round the north of Green- 

 land than westward over the great extent of Polar Sea. 

 It is probable that the ice from north of latitude 84° and 

 westward at least as far as 100° W. longitude drifts to the 

 east round the north of Greenland, if land does not extend 

 farther north in that direction. 



The sledge-journey by Nansen and Johansen was the 

 most daring ever undertaken. In the case of any other 

 sledge-journey there was always a base of supplies to fall 

 back upon ; in Nansen's case there was none. In taking 

 only one companion with him, his daring amounted to 

 rashness. Had any serious accident happened to one of 

 them it would have meant the sacrifice of both lives, for it 

 cannot be supposed for a moment that a comrade could 

 have been deserted under any circumstances. A party of 

 three would have been much safer, although it would have 

 involved a larger quantity of provisions. Two men might 

 struggle on with a disabled companion, but it would be 

 practically impossible for one to do so. 



