248 FARTHEST NORTH 



we found them considerably leaky in the seams and also 

 in the canvas, from their rough usage on the way, but it 

 is to be hoped no more so than will be remedied when a 

 little soakinQT makes the canvas swell out. It will not 

 be agreeable to ferry over lanes and have to put our 

 kayaks dry and leaky on the water. Our provisions may 

 not improbably be reduced to a pulp ; but we shall have 

 to put up with that, too, like everything else. 



" And so we really mean to get off to-day, after a 

 week's stay on the same spot. Yesterday the southeast 

 wind set in ; it has increased to-day and become rather 

 strong, to judge by the whistling round the hummocks 

 outside. I lay here this morning fancying I heard the 

 sound of breakers a little way off. All the lanes about 

 here closed yesterday, and there was little open water to 

 be seen. It is owing to this wind, I suppose, and if it is 

 troine to close lanes for us, then let it blow on. The 

 snow is covered with a crust of ice, the going is as good 

 as possible, and the ice, it is to be hoped, is more or less 

 flat, so we shall be all right. 



" Johansen shot another ivory gull yesterday, and we 

 had it and another one for dinner. It was our first taste 

 of fresh food, and was, it cannot be denied, ver)' good ; 

 but all the same not so delightful as one would expect, 

 seeing that we have not had fresh meat for so many 

 months. It is a proof, no doubt, that the food we have is 

 also good. 



"Weighed the bread yesterday; found we had 26 



