68 FARTHEST NORTH 



with everything in common, we are a Httle part of the 

 fatherland, and daily we draw closer and closer together. 

 In one point only have my calculations proved incor- 

 rect, but unfortunately in one of the most important. 

 I presupposed a shallow Polar Sea, the geatest depth 

 known in these regions up till now being 80 fathoms, 

 found by the Jeannctte. I reasoned that all currents 

 would have a strong influence in the shallow Polar 

 Sea, and that on the Asiatic side the current of the 

 Siberian rivers would be strong enough to drive the 

 ice a good way north. But here I already find a depth 

 which we cannot measure with all our line, a depth of 

 certainly 1000 fathoms, and possibly double that. This 

 at once upsets all faith in the operation of a current ; 

 we find either none, or an extremely slight one ; my 

 only trust now is in the winds. Columbus discovered 

 America by means of a mistaken calculation, and even 

 that not his own ; heaven only knows where my mistake 

 will lead us. Only I repeat once more — the Siberian 

 driftwood on the coast of Greenland cannot lie, and the 

 way it went we must go. 



" Monday, January 8th. Little Liv is a year old to- 

 day ; it will be a fete day at home. As I was lying on 

 the sofa reading after dinner, Peter put his head in at 

 the door and asked me to come up and look at a 

 strange star which had just shown itself above the ho- 

 rizon, shining like a beacon flame. I got quite a start 

 when I came on deck and saw a strong red light just 



