92 FARTHEST NORTH 



to be done under various contingencies, even if it were 

 possible to give any. I am certain you will know best 

 yourself what ought to be done in any emergency, and I 

 therefore consider that I may with confidence leave the 

 Fraiii. 



" The chief aim of the expedition is to push through 

 the unknown Polar Sea from the region around the New 

 Siberian Islands, north of Franz Josef Land, and on- 

 ward to the Atlantic Ocean, near Spitzbergen or Green- 

 land. The most essential part of this task, I consider, 

 we have already accomplished ; the remainder will be 

 achieved as the expedition gets farther west. In order to 

 make the expedition still more fruitful of results, I am 

 making an attempt to push farther up north with the 

 dogs. Your task will then be to convey home, in the 

 safest manner possible, the human lives now confided to 

 your care, and not to expose them to any unnecessary 

 danger, either out of regard for the ship or cargo, or for 

 the scientific outcome of the expedition. No one can tell 

 how long it may take before the Fram drifts out into open 

 water. You have provisions for several years to come ; if 

 for any unknown reason it should take too long, or if the 

 crew should begin to suffer in health, or if from other 

 reasons you should think it best to abandon the vessel, it 

 should unquestionably be done. As to the time of the 

 year when this should be done, and the route to be chos- 

 en, you yourself will be best able to judge. If it should 

 be necessary, I consider Franz Josef Land and Spitz- 



