296 FARTHEST NORTH 



home as:ain soon. When I beoin to reflect, I know that 

 it may be long, but I will not believe it. 



" To-day, moreover, we took solemn farewell of the 

 sun. Half of its disk showed at noon for the last time 

 above the edge of the ice in the south, a flattened body,^ 

 with a dull red glow, but no heat. Now we are en- 

 tering the ni2:ht of winter. What is it brin^ins: us "^ 

 Where shall we be wlien the sun returns } No one 

 can tell. To console us for the loss of the sun we 

 have the most wonderful moonlight ; the moon goes 

 round the sky night and day. There is, strange to 

 say, little pressure just now; only an occasional slight 

 squeeze. But the ice often opens considerably; there 

 are large pieces of water in several directions; to-day 

 there were some Q-ood-sized ones to the south. 



" Friday, October 27th. The soundings this morn- 

 ing showed 52 fathoms (95 m.) of water. According 

 to observations taken yesterday afternoon, we are about 

 3' farther north and a Uttle farther west than on the 

 19th. It is disgusting the way we are muddling about 

 here. We must have got into a hole where the ice 

 grinds round and round, and can't get farther. And the 

 time is passing all to no purpose ; and goodness only 

 knows how long this sort of thing may go on. If only a 

 good south wind would come and drive us north out of 

 this hobble ! The boys have taken up the rudder again 

 to-day. While they were working at this in the after- 

 noon, it suddenly grew as bright as day. A strange fire- 



