406 FARTHEST NORTH 



making their way down. Goodness knows if they have 

 reached the bottom yet. I declare I feel inclined to be- 

 lieve that Bentzen is right, and that it is the hole at the 

 earth's axis we are trying to s-ound. 



" Friday, March 2d. The pups have lived until now 

 in the chart-room, and have done all the mischief there 

 that they could, gnawing the cases of Hansen's instru- 

 ments, the log-books, etc. They were taken out on deck 

 yesterday for the first time, and to-day they have been 

 there all the morning. They are of an inquiring turn of 

 mind, and examine everything, being specially interest- 

 ed in the interiors of all the kennels in this new, large 

 town. 



" Sunday, March 4th. The drift is still strong south. 

 There is northwesterly wind to-day again, but not quite 

 so much of it. I expected we had come a long way 

 south, but yesterday's observation still showed 79° 54' 

 north latitude. We must have drifted a good way north 

 during the last days before this wind came. The weather 

 yesterday and to-day has been bitter, 35° Fahr. and 36^° 

 Fahr. below zero ( — 37'^ and —38° C), with sometimes as 

 much as 35 feet of wind per second, must be called cool. 

 It is curious that now the northerly winds bring cold, and 

 the southerly warmth. Earlier in the winter it was just 

 the opposite. 



" Monday, March 5th. Sverdrup and I have been a 

 long way northeast on snow-shoes. The ice was in good 

 condition for it ; the wind has tossed about the snow 



