1/2 FARTHEST NORTH 



the weight of the other dogs and the sledge, and the 

 water came flowing up. I dragged dogs and sledge back 

 as quickly as possible, and succeeded in driving them all 

 on to the firm ice again in safety. We tried once again 

 at another place, I running over first on snow-shoes and 

 calling to the dogs, and Johansen pushing behind, but 

 the result was no better than the first time, as 'Suggen' 

 fell in, and we had to go back. Only after a long detour, 

 and very much fagged, did we finally succeed in getting 

 the last two sledges over. We were lucky in finding 

 a good camping-place, and had the warmest night and 

 the most comfortable (I might almost say cozy) morn- 

 ing — spent, be it said, in repairs — that we have had on 

 the trip. I think we did the longest day's march yester- 

 day that we have yet achieved — about 15 miles. Two in 

 the afternoon, —17.6 Fahr. ( — 27.6 C). 



" Saturday, April 13th. We have traversed nothing 

 but good ice for three days. If this goes on, the 

 return journey will be quicker than I thought. I do 

 not understand this sudden change in the nature of the 

 ice. Can it be that we are travelling in the same di- 

 rection with the trend of the rid^'es and irrcQ-ularities, 

 so that now we go along between them instead of 

 having to make our way over them } The lanes we 

 have come across seem all to point to this ; they follow 

 our course pretty closely. We had the misfortune yester- 

 day to let our watches run down ; the time between 

 our getting into the bag on the previous night and en- 



