312 FARTHEST NORTH 



Norway, think of all the friends that gave us their time, 

 their faith, and their money, the wish comes that they 

 may not be disappointed, and I grow sombre when our 

 progress is not what we expected it would be. And 

 she that gave most — does she deserve that her sacrifice 

 should have been made in vain ? Ah, yes, we must and 

 will succeed ! 



" Sunday, December 3d. Sunday again, with its feel- 

 ing of peace, and its permission to indulge in the nar- 

 cotic of happy day-dreams, and let the hours go idly by 

 without any prickings of conscience. 



" To-day the bottom was not reached with over 133 

 fathoms (250 m.) of line. There was a northeasterly drift. 

 Yesterday's observation showed us to be in 78° 44' north 

 latitude, that is 5' farther north than on Tuesday. It is 

 horribly slow ; but it is forward, and forward we must 

 go ; there can be no question of that. 



" Tuesday, December 5th, This is the coldest day 

 we have had yet, with the thermometer 31'' below zero 

 { — 35.7° C.) and a biting wind from the E.S.E. Obser- 

 vation in the afternoon shows 'j'^' 50 north latitude ; 

 that is 6' farther north than on Saturday, or 2 per day. 

 In the afternoon we had magnificent aurora borealis 

 — glittering arches across the whole vault of the sky 

 from the east towards west ; but when I was on deck 

 this evening the sky was overcast: only one star shone 

 through the cloudy veil — the home star. How I love 

 it ! It is the first thing my eye seeks, and it is always 



