242 FARTHEST NORTH 



Johansen's kayak) were split, and these had wholly or 

 partly to be taken out and new ones substituted, or to be 

 strenirthened bv lashin2:s and side splints. When the 

 covers were properly patched, and the frames, after 

 several days' work, again in order, the covers wert- put 

 on and carefully stretched. All this, of course, had to be 

 done with care, and was not quick work ; but then we 

 had the satisfaction of knowing that the kayaks were 

 fully seaworthy, and capable, if need be, of weathering a 

 storm on the way over to Spitzbergen. 



Meanwhile the time tiew by — our precious time; but 

 then we hoped that our kayaks would render us im- 

 portant assistance, and that we should get on all the 

 quicker in them. Thus, on Tuesday, June 4th, I wrote 

 in my diary: "It seems to me that it cannot be long 

 before we come to open water or slack ice. The 

 latter is, hereabouts, so thin and broken up, and the 

 weather so summer-like. Yesterday the thermometer 

 was a little below freezing-point, and the snow which 

 fell was more like sleet than anything else ; it melted 

 on the tent, and it was difificult to keep things from 

 getting wet inside; the walls dripped if we even went 

 near them. We had abominable weather the whole 

 day yesterday, with falling snow, but for the matter of 

 that we are used to it ; we have had nothing else lately. 

 To-day, however, it is brilliant, clear blue sky, and the 

 sun has just come over the top of our hummock and 

 down into the tent. It will be a glorious day to sit out 



