lOO FARTHEST NORTH 



" The sledges have again been unloaded and brought 

 on board in order that this may be done, and here we are 

 again to-night. I am glad, however, that this happened 

 when it did ; it would ha\'e been worse to have had 

 such an experience a few days later. I will now take 

 six sledges instead of four, so that the load on each may 

 be less, and so that it will be easier to lift them over the 

 irregularities of the ground. I shall also have a broad 

 board fitted lengthwise to the sledge, underneath the 

 crossbars, so as to protect them against projecting pieces 

 of ice. As a great deal of time is saved in the end by 

 doing such things thoroughly before starting, we shall 

 not be ready to start before the day after to-morrow. It 

 seemed strange to be on board again after having said 

 good-bye, as I thought, forever, to these surroundings. 

 When 1 came up on the after- deck, I found the guns 

 lying there in the snow, one of them turned over on its 

 back, the other had recoiled a long way aft, when sa- 

 luting us ; from the mizzen-top the red and black flag 

 was still waving. 



" I am in wonderfully high spirits, and feel confident 

 of success; the sledges seemed to glide so easily, although 

 carrying 200 pounds more than was originally intended 

 (about 2200 pounds altogether), and everything looks 

 very promising. We shall have to wait a couple of days, 

 but as we are having a southeasterly wind all day long, 



three or four pieces of rattan cane lashed together ; it is to this bow the 

 hauhnsf-lines are fastened. 



