66 FARTHEST NORTH 



went on, but it did not go beyond crackling and creaking 

 beneath our feet and in the ridge at our side. Perhaps 

 it is to warn us not to be too confident ! I am not so 

 sure that it is not necessary. It is in reaHty Hke livins^ 

 on a smoking yolcano. The eruption that will seal our 

 fate may occur at any moment. It will either force the 

 ship up or swallow her down. And what are the stakes? 

 Either the Frani will get home and the expedition be 

 fully successful, or we shall lose her and haye to be con- 

 tent with what we have done, and possibly on our way 

 home we may explore parts of Franz Josef Land. That 

 is all ; but most of us feel that it would be hard to lose 

 the ship, and it would be a yery sad sight to see her dis- 

 appear. 



'' Some of the hands, under Syerdrup, are working, 

 trying to cut away the hummock ice on the port side, and 

 they haye already made good headway. Mogstad and I 

 are busy getting the sledges in order, and preparing them 

 for use as I want them, whether we oo north or south. 



" Liy is two years old to-day, 



" She is a big girl now. I wonder if I should be able 

 to recognize her .f* I suppose I should hardly find a single 

 familiar feature. They are sure to celebrate the day, and 

 she will get all kinds of presents. Many a thought will 

 be sent northward, but they know not where to look for 

 us ; are not aware that we are drifting here embedded in 

 the ice in the highest northern latitudes eyer reached, in 

 the deepest polar night eyer penetrated." 



