A HARD STRUGGLE 199 



snow-shoes, and when I fall clown only wish to lie there 

 to save myself the trouble of getting up again. But every- 

 thino' chano-es, and we shall ofet to land in time. 



" At five this morning we came to a broad lane, and as 

 it was almost impossible to get the dogs on any farther, 

 we camped. Once well down in the bag with a pot of 

 savory-smelling lobscouse in front of one, a feeling of well- 

 being is the result, which neither lanes nor anything else 

 can disturb. 



" The ice we have gone through has, on the whole, 

 been flat, with the exception of the newly formed lanes 

 and rubble. These appear, however, for the most part in 

 limited stretches, with extensive flat ice between, as yes- 

 terday. All the channels seem in the main to go in the 

 same direction — about straight across our course, with a 

 little deflection towards the southwest. They run about 

 northeast to west-southwest (by compass). This morning 

 the temperature had again sunk to +0.1° Fahr. (— 17.8" 

 C), after having been up at + 12.2° Fahr. (—11° C), and 

 therefore I am still in hopes that the water may freeze 

 within a reasonable time. Perhaps it is wrong of us to 

 curse this wind, for on board the Fi'am they are rejoicing 

 that a southeaster has at last sprung up. However, in 

 spite of our maledictions, I am really glad for their sake, 

 although I could wish it deferred till we reach land. 



" Wednesday, May 8th. The lanes still appear 

 regularly in certain places — as a rule, where the ice is 

 very uneven, and where there are old and new ridges 



