PREPARATIONS AND EQUIPMENT 69 



the engine, by the mere turning of a cock or two, could 

 be changed at will into a compound high-pressure or 

 low^-pressure engine. Although nothing ever went wrong 

 wdth any of the cylinders, this arrangement was fre- 

 quently used with advantage. By using the engine as a 

 compound one, we could, for instance, give the Fram 

 greater speed for a short time, and when occasion de- 

 manded we often took this means of forcing our way 

 through the ice. The engine was of 220 indicated horse- 

 power, and we could in calm weather with a light cargo 

 attain a speed of 6 or 7 knots. 



The propellers, of which we had tw^o in reserve, were 

 two-bladed, and made of cast-iron; but we never used 

 either the spare propellers or a spare rudder which we 

 had with us. 



Our quarters lay, as before mentioned, abaft under the 

 half-deck, and were arranged so that the saloon, which 

 formed our dining-room and drawing-room, was in the 

 middle, surrounded on all sides by the sleeping-cabms. 

 These consisted of four state-rooms with one berth apiece 

 and two with four berths. The object of this arrange- 

 ment was to protect the saloon from external cold ; but, 

 further, the ceilino;, floors, and walls were covered with 

 several thick coatings of non-conducting material, the 

 surface layer, in touch with the heat of the cabin, con- 

 sisting of air-tight linoleum, to prevent the warm, damp 

 air from penetrating to the other side and depositing 

 moisture, which would soon turn to ice. The sides of 



