1 6 FARTHEST NORTH 



patched, and the kayaks carefully looked over, etc. 

 We were determined to start on our last journey home 

 in good repair, and so we did. Everything goes like 

 wildfire. The chances of progress are better than we 

 expected, although the ice is anything but even ; the 

 sledges are lighter to draw, now that everything that can 

 be dispensed with is left behind, and the snow, too, has 

 decreased considerably. On the last part of the journey 

 yesterday we could even go without snow-shoes, and, 

 as a matter of course, progress among the ridges and 

 irregularities, where they are difficult to manage, is 

 quicker without them. Johansen performed a feat bv 

 crossing a lane alone in his kayak, with 'Suggen' lying 

 on the fore-deck, while he himself knelt on the after-deck 

 and balanced the craft as he paddled. I began to try 

 the same with mine, but found it too cranky to risk the 

 attempt, and preferred to tow it over, with 'Kaifas' on the 

 deck, while I went carefully alongside and jumped over 

 on sonie pieces of ice. 



" We have now the advantage of finding drinking- 

 water everywhere. We are also eating our old proven- 

 der again ; but, curiously enough, neither Johansen nor 

 I think the farinaceous food as good as one might sup- 

 pose after a month of meat diet. It is good to be under 

 way again, and not the least pleasant part about it is our 

 lighter sledges; but then we certainly left a good deal 

 behind at ' Longing Camp.' In addition to a respect- 

 able mound of meat and blubber, we left three fine bear- 



