2 6o THE SIEGE OF THE NORTH POLE 



return journey was started on the 6th May, and the 

 Fram was reached on the 20th May. 



On the 12th April, Isachsen and Bay made a trip to 

 North Devon, and did not return till 21st May. On 

 25th May, Isachsen and Simmons set out to examine 

 a bed of coal discovered by Baumann, and returned on 

 9th June. 



The work of exploration was now over. The usual 

 summer dredging was begun, and the geologist hunted 

 for fossils. Olsen managed to fall from a pressure-ridge 

 and dislocate his other shoulder. This time it was re- 

 duced without the assistance of brandy. 



On 20th July the Fram, with steam up, began to 

 leave her winter harbour, but it was not until the 6th 

 August that she entered Jones Sound. On the 10th the 

 Fram was in Baffin's Bay, heading for the Devil's Thumb. 

 Godhavn was reached on the 17th August, and here they 

 were well received. They left on the 21st, and although 

 there was a break -down of the engine, Norway was sighted 

 on 18th September. Stavanger was reached on the 19th, 

 and soon they received a most enthusiastic reception 

 wherever they went. The owners of the expedition in- 

 curred expenses to the amount of i?12,014. 



This expedition, although it unfortunately was pre- 

 vented from carrying out its original plans, did important 

 work. It not only explored the whole of Jones Sound, 

 but discovered the existence of large islands extending 

 toward the north. The fact that no palaeocrystic ice 

 was met with in this region makes it highly probable 

 that land exists still farther to the north. 1 



1 The discovery of Crocker Land and Bradley Land proves that this 

 view was correct. 



