JV£ MAKE A START 95 



bergen favorable lands to make for. If search is made 

 for the expedition after the arrival home of Johansen 

 and myself, it will be made there first. Wherever you 

 come to land, you should, as often as vou can, erect con- 

 spicuous beacons on promontories and projecting head- 

 lands, and place within the beacons a short report of 

 what has occurred, and whither you are going. In order 

 to distinguish these beacons from others, a small beacon 

 should be erected 4 metres from the larger one in the 

 direction of the magnetic North Pole. The question as 

 to what outfit would be most advantageous in case the 

 Frain should have to be abandoned is one which we have 

 so frequently discussed that I consider it superfluous to 

 dwell on it here. I know that you will take care that 

 the requisite number of kayaks for all the men, sledges, 

 snow-shoes, ' truger,' and other articles of outfit are put 

 in complete order as soon as possible, and kept in readi- 

 ness, so that such a journey home over the ice could be 

 undertaken with the greatest possible ease. Elsewhere I 

 give you directions as to the provisions which I consider 

 most suitable for such a journey, and the quantity neces- 

 sary for each man, 



" I also know that vou will hold evervthino- in readi- 

 ness to abandon the Fraiu in the shortest possible time 

 in the event of her sufferino; sudden damas^e, whether 

 through fire or ice -pressure. If the ice permits it, I 

 consider it advisable that a depot, with sufficient provi- 

 sions, etc., should be established at a safe place on the 



