SECOND AUTUMN IN THE ICE 5 §5 



unknown lands to the north. But should this be so — 

 very well, we must take what chance we find. The ice 

 can scarcely be altogether impassable. Even Markham 

 was able to advance with his scurvy-smitten people. And 

 the coasts of this land may possibly be advantageous for 

 an advance; it simply depends on their direction and 

 extent. It is diflficult to say anything beforehand, except 

 that I think the depth of water we have here and the 

 drift of the ice render it improbable that we can have 

 land of any extent at all close at hand. In any case, 

 there must, somewhere or other, be a passage for the ice, 

 and at the worst we can follow that passage. 



" 3. There is always a possibility that the dogs may 

 fail us, but, as may be seen, I have not laid out any scheme 

 of excessive work for them. And even if one or two of 

 them should prove failures, that could not be the case 

 with all. With the food they have hitherto had they 

 have got through the winter and the cold without mis- 

 hap, and the food they will get on the journey will be 

 better. In my calculations, moreover, I have taken no 

 account of what we shall draw ourselves. And, even 

 supposing all the dogs to fail us, we could manage to 

 get along by ourselves pretty well. 



" 4. The worst event would undeniably be that we 

 ourselves should be attacked by scurvy ; and, notwith- 

 standing our excellent health, such a contingency is quite 

 conceivable when it is borne in mind how in the English 

 North Pole Expedition all the men, with the exception 



