INTR on UCTION 43 



separate body detached from the ice block, even in the 

 height of summer. In the event of the destruction of 

 the vessel, the boats — necessarily fully stored, not only 

 for the retreat, but for continuing the voyage — are to be 

 available. This is well in theory, but extremely difficult 

 to arrange for in practice. Preparation to abandon the 

 vessel is the one thing that gives us the most anxiety. 

 To place boats, etc., on the ice, packed ready for use, 

 involves the danger of being separated from them by 

 a movement of the ice, or of losino- them altogether 

 should a sudden opening occur. If we merely have every- 

 thing handy for heaving over the side, the emergen- 

 cy may be so sudden that we have not time to save 

 anything. . . ." 



As regards the assumed drift of the polar ice, Nares 

 expressed himself on the whole at variance with me. 

 He insisted that the drift was essentially determined by 

 the prevailing winds : 



" As to the probable direction of the drift, the Fram, 

 starting from near the mouth of the Lena River, may 

 expect to meet the main pack not farther north than 

 about latitude 76' 30'. I doubt her getting farther north 

 before she is beset, but taking an extreme case, and 

 giving her 60 miles more, she will then only be in the 

 same latitude as Cape Chelyuskin, 730 miles from the 

 Pole, and about 600 miles from my supposed limit of the 

 effective homeward-carrying ocean current. After a close 

 study of all the information we possess, I think the wind 



