1 86 FARTHEST NORTH 



obliquely from the surface of the ice. It was Siberian 

 larch, as far as I could make out, and probably raised in 

 this manner through pressure long ago. Many a good 

 meal could we have cooked with it had we been able to 

 drag it with us, but it was too heavy. We marked it 

 ' F. N., H. J., 85'' 30' N.,' and went on our way. 



■' Plains of ice still before us. I am looking forward 

 to getting under way. Gliding over this flat surface on 

 one's snow-shoes almost reaches the ideal; land and home 

 are nigher, and as one goes along ones thoughts fly 

 southward to everything that is beautiful. Six in the 

 morning, —22° Fahr. ( — 30'' C). 



" Monday, April 2 2d. If we have made good prog- 

 ress the previous days, yesterday simply outdid itself. 

 I think I may reckon our day s march at 25 miles, but, 

 for the sake of certainty, lump the two last days together 

 and put them down at 40 miles. The dogs, though, are 

 beginning to get tired ; it is approaching the time for us 

 to camp. They are impatient for food, and, grown more 

 and more greedy for fresh dog's flesh, throw themselves 

 on it like wolves as soon as a smoking piece, with hair 

 and all on, is thrown to them. ' Kvik ' and ' Barnet ' only 

 still keep back as long as the flesh is warm, but let it 

 become frozen, and they eat it voraciously. Twelve mid- 

 night, -27.8° Fahr. {--^l-f C). 



"Friday, April 26th. —24.7° Fahr. (—31.5^ C). 

 Minimum temperature, —32'^ F"ahr. ( — 35.7° C). I was not 

 a little surprised yesterday morning when I suddenly 



