THE NEW YEAR, i8gs 53 



baleful rido^e advances, and it looks as if it meant eoinof 

 right over the rail ; but if the Fram will only oblige 

 by getting free of the ice she will, I feel confident, ex- 

 tricate herself yet, even though matters look rather awk- 

 ward at present. We shall probably have a hard time 

 of it, however, before she can break loose if she does 

 not do so at once. I have been out and had a look at 

 the ridge, and seen how surely it is advancing! I have 

 looked at the fissures in the ice and noted how they are 

 forming and expanding round the vessel ; I have listened 

 to the ice crackling and crunching underfoot, and I do 

 not feel much disposed to turn into my berth before I 

 see the Fram quite released. As I sit here now I hear 

 the ice making a fresh assault, and roaring and packing 

 outside, and I can tell that the rido^e is comino^ nearer. 

 This is an ice-pressure with a vengeance, and it seems 

 as if it would never cease. I do not think there is any- 

 thing more that we can do now. All is in readiness for 

 leaving the vessel, if need be. To-day the clothing, etc., 

 was taken out and placed ready for removal in separate 

 bags for each man. 



" It is very strange ; there is certainly a possibility that 

 all our plans may be crossed by unforeseen events, al- 

 though it is not very probable that this will happen. As 

 yet I feel no anxiety in that direction, only I should like 

 to know whether we are really to take everything on to 

 the ice or not. However, it is past i o'clock, and I think 

 the most sensible thing to do would be to turn in and 



