3o8 FARTHEST NORTH 



itself. We were regularly in it before. The ice round 

 us is perfectly quiet. The probability is that the last 

 severe pressure packed it very tight about us, and that 

 the cold since has frozen it into such a thick, strong 

 mass that it offers great resistance, while the weaker ice 

 in other places yields to the pressure. The depth of 

 the sea is increasing steadily, and we are drifting north. 

 This evenins: Hansen has worked out the observations 

 of the day before yesterday, and finds that we are in 

 79° ii' north latitude. That is good, and the way we 

 ought to get on. It is the most northern point we have 

 reached yet, and to-day we are in all likelihood still far- 

 ther north. We have made good way these last days, 

 and the increasing depth seems to indicate a happy 

 change in the direction of our drift. Have we, perhaps, 

 really found the right road at last } We are drifting 

 about 5' a day. The most satisfactory thing is that 

 there has not been much wind lately, especially not the 

 last two days; yesterday it was only i metre per second; 

 to-day is perfectly still, and yet the depth has increased 

 21 fathoms (40 m.) in these two days. It seems as if 

 there were a northerly current, after all. No doubt many 

 disappointments await us yet ; but why not rejoice while 

 fortune smiles } 



" Tuesday, November 28th. The disappointment lost 

 no time in coming. There had been a mistake either 

 in the observation or in Hansen's calculations. An alti- 

 tude of Jupiter taken yesterday evening shows us to be in 



