82 FARTHES2' NORTH 



body is hard at work. Sverdrup is sewing bags or 

 bolsters to put on the sledges as beds for the kayaks to 

 rest on. To this end the bags are to be made up to fit 

 the bottoms of the boats. Johansen with one or two 

 other men are stuffing the bags with pemmican, which 

 has to be warmed, beaten, and kneaded in order to give 

 it the right form for making a good bed for our precious 

 boats. When these square, fiat bags are carried out into 

 the cold they freeze as hard as stone, and keep their form 

 well. Blessing is sitting up in the work-room, copying 

 the photographs of which I have no prints. Hansen is 

 working out a map of our route so far, and copying out 

 his observations for us, etc., etc. In short, there is 

 hardly a man on board who does not feel that the mo- 

 ment for departure approaches; perhaps the galley is 

 the only place where everything goes on in the usual 

 way under the management of Lars. Our position 

 yesterday was '^^ 32.1' north latitude and 102' 28' east 

 lono-itude, so we are southward ac^ain ; but never mind, 

 what do a couple of miles more or less matter to us.? 



" Sunday, February loth. To-day there was so much 

 daylight that at i o'clock I could fairly well read the 

 Verdciis Gauo\ when I held the paper up towards the 

 light ; but when I held it towards the moon, which was 

 low in the north, it was no go. Before dinner I went for 

 a short drive with ' Gulen' and ' Susine' (two of the 

 young dogs) and ' Kaifas.' ' Gulen' had never been in 

 harness before, but yet she went quite well ; she was 



