io8 FARTHEST NORTH 



the previous afternoon taken an observation, which gave 

 84 ' V north latitude. 



" It was undoubtedly very pleasant once more to 

 stretch my limbs on the sofa in the Frams saloon, to 

 quench my thirst in delicious lime-juice with sugar, and 

 ao'ain to dine in a civilized manner. In the afternoon 

 Hansen and Nordahl went back to Johansen with my 

 team of dogs, to keep him company overnight. When I 

 left him it was understood that he was to start on the 

 return journey as best he could, until I came with others 

 to help him. The dogs lost no time, and the two men 

 reached |ohansen\s tent in an hour and twenty minutes. 

 At night both they and we had rejoicings in honor of 

 the sun and the <S4th degree. 



"The next morning three of us went off and fetched 

 the sledges back. Now, when we made for the ship, the 

 does draesed much better, and in a short time we should 

 have been on board had it not been for a long lane in the 

 ice which we could see no end to, and which stopped us. 

 Finally we left the sledges and, together with the dogs, 

 managed to cross over on some loose pieces of ice ^nd 

 CTot on board. Yesterdav w^e twice tried to fetch the 

 sledges, but there had evidently been some movement in 

 the lane, and the new ice was still so thin that we dared 

 not trust it. We have, however, to - day got them on 

 board, and we will now for the last time, it is to be hoped, 

 prepare ourselves for the journey. I will now plan out 

 the journey so as to take the shortest possible time, using 



