26 FARTHEST NORTH 



Yes, truly, I think we have every reason to be satisfied 

 with our voyage so far and with the Fraiu, and I trust we 

 shall be able to bring something back to Norway in return 

 for the trust, the sympathy, and the money which she has 

 expended on us. But let us not on this account forget our 

 predecessors; let us admire them for the way in which 

 they struggled and endured ; let us remember that it is 

 only through their labors and achievements that the way 

 has been prepared for the present voyage. It is owing 

 to their collective experience that man has now got so 

 far as to be able to cope to some extent with what has 

 hitherto been his most dangerous and obstinate enemy in 

 the Arctic regions — viz., the drift-ice — and to do so by the 

 very simple expedient of going with it and not against it, 

 and allowing one's self to be hemmed in by it, not invol- 

 untarily, but intentionally, and preparing for it beforehand. 

 On board this vessel we try to cull the fruits of all our 

 predecessors' experiences. It has taken years to collect 

 them ; but I felt that with these I should be enabled 

 to face any vicissitude of fate in unknown waters. I 

 think we have been fortunate. I think we are all of 

 the opinion that there is no imaginable difficulty or ob- 

 stacle before us that we ought not to be able to overcome 

 with the means and resources we possess on board, and 

 be thus enabled to return at last to Norway safe and 

 sound, with a rich harvest. Therefore let us drink a 

 bumper to the Franif 



" Next there followed some musical items and a per- 



