382 FARTHEST N0R2H 



unately it had gone off southwest, and we had small 

 hope, with this steady south wind, of its getting scent 

 of the ship and coming to fetch a little of the flesh on 

 board. 



"Saturday, January 27th. The days are turning dis- 

 tinctly lighter now. We can just see to read Vcrdens 

 Gang* about midday. At that time to-day Sverdrup 

 thought he saw land far astern ; it was dark and irregular, 

 in some places high ; he fancied that it might be only an 

 appearance of clouds. When I returned from a walk, 

 about I o'clock, I went up to look, but saw only piled- 

 up ice. Perhaps this was the same as he saw, or possibly 

 I was too late. (It turned out next day to be only an 

 optical illusion.) Severe pressure has been going on this 

 evening. It l^egan at 7.30 astern in the opening, and 

 went on steadily for two hours. It sounded as if a roar- 

 ing waterfall were rushing down upon us with a force 

 that nothing could resist. One heard the big floes crash- 

 ing and breaking against each other. They were flung 

 and pressed up into high walls, which must now stretch 

 along the whole opening east and west, for one hears 

 the roar the whole way. It is coming nearer just now^; 

 the ship is getting violent shocks ; it is like waves in the 

 ice. They come on us from behind, and move forward. 

 We stare out into the night, but can see nothing, for it 

 is pitch-dark. Now I hear cracking and shifting in the 



* A Norwegian newspaper. 



