246 FARTHEST XORTH 



another thing then ! Fancy, to get clear for good of this 

 ice and these lanes, this toil with the sledges and endless 

 trouble with the dogs, only one's self in a light craft danc- 

 ing over the waves at play ! It is almost too much to 

 think of. Perhaps we have still many a hard turn before 

 we reach it, many a dark hour; but some time it must 

 come, and then — then life will be life again ! 



" Yesterday, at last, we finished mending the frame- 

 work of both kayaks. We rigged up some plaited bam- 

 boo at the bottom of each to place the provisions on, in 

 order to prevent them from getting wet in case the ka- 

 yaks should leak. To-day we have only to go over them 

 again, test the lashings, and brace (support) those that 

 may require it, and finally put the covers on. To-morrow 

 evening I hope we shall get off. This repairing has 

 taken it out of the cord ; of our three balls we have rather 

 less than one left. This I am very anxious to keep, as we 

 may require it for fishing, and so forth. 



" Our various provisions are beginning to dwindle. 

 Weighed the butter yesterday, and found that we only 

 had 5 pounds i ounce. If we reckon our daily ration at 

 i^ ounces per man it will last another 23 days, and by 

 that time we shall have gone a little farther. To-day, for 

 the first time, I could note down a temperature above 

 freezing-point — i.e., +35.6" P^ahr. this morning. The 

 snow outside was soft all through, and the hummocks 

 are dripping. It will not be long now before we find 

 water on the floes. Last night, too, it absolutely rained. 



