IF£ SAV GOOD-BYE TO THE '' FRAM'' I43 



worst ice we have seen lately. Our day's march, how- 

 ever, had lain across several large tracts of level ice, so I 

 think that we made 14 miles or so all the same. We 

 have the same brilliant sunshine; but yesterday after- 

 noon the wind from the northeast, which we have had 

 for the last few days, increased, and made it rather raw. 



" We passed over a large frozen pool yesterday even- 

 ing ; it looked almost like a large lake." It could not 

 have been long since this was formed, as the ice on it 

 was still quite thin. It is wonderful that these pools can 

 form up there at that time of the year. 



From this time forward there was an end of the flat 

 ice, which it had been simple enjoyment to travel over; 

 and now we had often great dif^culties to cope with. 

 On Sunday, March 24th, I write : " Ice not so good ; 

 yesterday was a hard day, but we made a few miles — not 

 more, though, than seven, I am afraid. This continual 

 lifting of the heavily loaded sledges is calculated to break 

 one's back ; but better times are coming, perhaps. The 

 cold is also appreciable, always the same ; but yesterday 

 it w^as increased by the admixture of considerable wind 

 from the northeast. We halted about half-past nine in 

 the evening. It is perceptible how the days lengthen, 

 and how much later the sun sets; in a few days' time we 

 shall have the midnight sun. 



"We killed 'Livj^egeren ' yesterday evening, and hard 

 work it was skinning him." This was the first dog 

 which had to be killed; but many came afterwards, and 



