6o FARTHEST NORTH 



of the opportunity. We are now living in marching 

 order on an empty ship. 



" By way of precaution we have now burst open again 

 the passage on the starboard side which was used as a 

 hbrary and had therefore been closed, and all doors 

 are now kept always open, so that we can be sure of 

 getting out, even if anything should give way. We do 

 not want the ice-pressure to close the doors against us 

 by jamming the doorposts together. But she certainly is 

 a strong ship. It is a mighty ridge that we have in our 

 port side, and the masses of ice are tremendous. The 

 ship is listing more than ever, nearly 7" ; but since the 

 last pressure she has righted herself a little again, so 

 that she must surely have broken away from the ice 

 and begun to rise, and all danger is doubtless over. So, 

 after all, it has been a case of ' Much ado about nothing.' 



"Sunday, January 6th. A quiet day; no jamming 

 since last night. Most of the fellows slept well on into 

 the morning. This afternoon all have been very busy 

 digging the Frani out of the ice again, and we have now 

 got the rail clear right aft to the half-deck ; but a tre- 

 mendous mass had fallen over the tent. It was above 

 the second ratline in the fore-shrouds, and fully six feet 

 over the rail. It is a marvel that the tent stood it; 

 but it was a very good thing that it did do so, for other- 

 wise it is hard to say what might have become of many 

 of the dogs. This afternoon Hansen took a meridian 

 observation, which gave 83" 34' north latitude. Hurrah! 



