THE WINTER NIGHT 371 



a long distance N.N.E., past a large opening that I had 

 skirted before Christmas. It was shining, flat ice, 

 splendid for sledging on, always better the farther 

 north we went. The longer I wander about and see 

 this sort of ice in all directions, the more strongly does 

 a plan take hold of me that I have long had in my 

 mind. It would be possible to get with dogs and 

 sledges over this ice to the Pole, if one left the ship 

 for good and made one's way back in the direction of 

 Franz Josef Land, Spitzbergen, or the west coast of 

 Greenland. It might almost be called an easy expe- 

 dition for two men. 



" But it would be too hasty to go off in spring. We 

 must first see what kind of drift the summer brin2;s. 

 And as I think over it, I feel doubtful if it would be 

 right to go off and leave the others. Imagine if I 

 came home and they did not ! Yet it was to explore 

 the unknown polar regions that I came ; it was for that 

 the Norwegian people gave their money ; and surely 

 my first duty is to do that if I can, I must give the 

 drift plan a longer trial yet; but if it takes us in a 

 wrong direction, then there is nothing for it but to try 

 the other, come what may. 



"Tuesday, January i6th. The ice is quiet to-day. 

 Does longing stupefy one, or does it wear itself out and 

 turn at last into stolidity 1 Oh that burning longing night 

 and day were happiness ! But now its fire has turned 

 to ice. Why does home seem so far away t It is one's 



