228 FARTHEST NORTH 



north to east (by compass). Now it is to be proved if 

 my theory, on which the whole expedition is based, is 

 correct — if we are to find a little north from here a 

 north-flowing current. So far everything is better than I 

 had expected. We are in latitude 75 J. ° N., and have still 

 open water and dark sky to the north and west. In the 

 evening there was ice-light ahead and on the starboard 

 bow. About seven I thought that I could see ice, which, 

 however, rose so regularly that it more resembled land, 

 but it was too dark to see distinctly. It seemed as if it 

 might be Bielkoff Island, and a big light spot farther to 

 the east might even be the refiection from the snow- 

 covered Kotelnoi. I should have liked to run in here, 

 partly to see a little of this interesting island, and partly 

 to inspect the stores which we knew had been deposited 

 for us here by the friendly care of Baron von Toll ; but 

 time was precious, and to the north the sea seemed to lie 

 open to us. Prospects were bright, and we sailed stead- 

 ily northward, wondering w4iat the morrow would bring 

 — disappointment or hope ? If all went well we should 

 reach Sannikoff Land — that, as yet, untrodden ground. 



" It was a strange feeling to be sailing away north in 

 the dark night to unknown lands, over an open, rolling 

 sea, where no ship, no boat had been before. We might 

 have been hundreds of miles away in more southerly 

 waters, the air was so mild for September in this 

 latitude. 



"Tuesday, September 19th. I have never had such 



