Farthest north; being the record of a voyage of exploration of the ship "Fram" 1893-96, and of a fifteen months' sleigh journey by DrNansen and LieutJohansen . ithout touching bottom. The steel-line being too short we had to lengthen it with a hemp-line, andnow went down to 3400 metres (1841 fathoms). While haulingup we perceived that the line broke, and found that, in additionto the 110 fathoms length of hemp-line, we had lost about 275fathoms of steel-line. We then stopped taking soundings tillJul\- 22d, as the hemp-lines were so badly worn that we darednot venture to use them again until mi
Farthest north; being the record of a voyage of exploration of the ship "Fram" 1893-96, and of a fifteen months' sleigh journey by DrNansen and LieutJohansen . ithout touching bottom. The steel-line being too short we had to lengthen it with a hemp-line, andnow went down to 3400 metres (1841 fathoms). While haulingup we perceived that the line broke, and found that, in additionto the 110 fathoms length of hemp-line, we had lost about 275fathoms of steel-line. We then stopped taking soundings tillJul\- 22d, as the hemp-lines were so badly worn that we darednot venture to use them again until milder weather set in. Wind and weather were, of course, a favorite topic on boardthe Fram, especially in connection with our drift. As is butright and proper, we had a weather-prophet on board—to wit,Pettersen. His specialty was to predict fair wind, and in thisrespect he was untiring, although his predictions were by nomeans invariably fulfilled. But he also posed as a prophet inother departments, and nothing seemed to delight him morethan the offer of a bet with him on his predictions. If hewon he was beaming with good humor for days at a stretch, CO. MARCH ij TO JUNE 22, 1895 6^3 and if he lost he often knew how to shroud both his forecastand the result in oracular mystery and darkness so that bothparties appeared to be right. At times, as already hinted, hewas unlucky, and then he was mercilessly chaffed ; but at othertimes he would have a run of astounding luck, and then hiscourage would rise to such an extent that he was ready toprophesy and bet about anything. Among his great misfortunes was a bet made with the mateon May 4th that we should have land in sight by the end ofOctober. And on May 24th he made a bet with Nordahl thatby Monday night (the 27th) we should be at 8o° east to say we all wished that his incredible predictionsmight come true: but alas! the miracle did not happen, for itwas not until June 27th that the Fraiu passed the 80th degreeo
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