582 FARTHEST NORTH 



pound of pemmican a clay for each clog* — that is, 1400 

 pounds altogether ; and 2 pounds of provisions for each 

 man daily is 200 pounds. As some fuel also will have 

 been consumed durino" this time, the freio'ht on the 

 sledges will have diminished to less than 500 pounds; 

 but a burden like this is nothing for 28 clogs to draw, so 

 that they ought to go ahead like a gale of wind during the 

 latter part of the time, and thus do it in less than the 50 

 days. However, let us suppose that it takes this time. If 

 all has o-one well, we shall now direct our course for the 

 Seven Islands, north of Spitzbergen. That is 9", or 620 

 miles. But if we are not in first-rate condition it will be 

 safer to make for Cape Fligely or the land to the north 

 of it. Let us suppose we decide on this route. We set 

 out from the Fraiii on March 1st (if circumstances are 

 favorable, we should start sooner), and therefore arrive 

 at the Pole April 30th. We shall have 500 pounds of 

 our provisions left, enough for another 50 days ; but we 

 can spare none for the dogs. W^e must, therefore, begin 

 killing some of them, either for food for the others or for 

 ourselves, giving our provisions to them. Even if my 

 figures are somewhat too low, I may assume that by the 

 time twenty-three dogs have been killed we shall have 

 travelled 41 days, and still have five dogs left. How far 

 south shall we have advanced in this time } The weight 

 of baggage was, to begin with, less than 500 pounds — 



* During the actual expedition the dogs had to be content with a much 

 smaller daily ration, on an average scarcely more than 9 or 10 ounces. 



