586 FARTHEST NORTH 



of the officers, suffered from scurvy when the spring 

 and the sledge journeys began, although as long as they 

 were on board ship they had not the remotest suspicion 

 that anything of the kind was lying in wait for them. 

 As far, however, as we are concerned, I consider this 

 contingency very remote. In the first place, the Eng- 

 lish expedition was remarkably unfortunate, and hardly 

 any others can show a similar experience, although 

 they may have undertaken sledge journeys of equal 

 lengths — for example, M'Clintock's. During the retreat 

 of the Jcaiincttc party, so far as is known, no one was 

 attacked with scurvy ; Peary and Astrup did not suffer 

 from scurvy either. Moreover, our supply of provisions 

 has been more carefully selected, and offers greater 

 variety than has been the case in former expeditions, not 

 one of which has enjoyed such perfect health as ours. 

 I scarcely think, therefore, that we should take with us 

 from the Frani any germs of scurvy; and as regards 

 the provisions for the sledge journey itself, I have taken 

 care that they shall consist of good all-round, nutritious 

 articles of food, so that I can scarcely believe that they 

 would be the means of developing an attack of this dis- 

 ease. Of course, one must run some risk ; but in my 

 opinion all possible precautions have been taken, and, 

 when that is done, it is one's duty to go ahead. 



" There is yet another question that must be taken 

 into consideration. Have I the right to deprive the 

 ship and those who remain behind of the resources such 



