The Siege and Conquest of the North PoleBryce, George
History
The Siege and Conquest of the North Pole
Bryce, George
Arctic regions; North Pole; Scientific expeditions
In the afternoon of the 17th June, Nansen had ascended a hummock to have
a look at the land beyond. Flocks of auks were flying to and fro making
a confused noise, and as Nansen listened, a sound suddenly reached his
ear, so like the barking of a dog that he started. He waited for some
time, listening intently, till the barking began again and there was no
room for doubt. He shouted to Johansen that he heard dogs. Johansen
started up from the bag where he lay sleeping, and tumbled out of the
tent. He tried to hear the sound, but could only make out the noise of
the birds. Nansen, however, was convinced that he heard dogs, and he
prepared to make for the land, leaving Johansen to stay behind with the
kayaks, so that there might be no risk of their drifting away again. He
had not gone far when he observed tracks which were probably those of a
dog. Then he again heard the yelping of a dog more distinctly than ever.
It was with a strange mixture of feelings that he made his way towards
land. Suddenly he thought he heard a shout from a human voice, and he
ran up on to a hummock and hallooed with all his might. Soon he heard
another shout, and saw a dark form moving among the hummocks. It was a
dog, and farther off was seen a man. Nansen approached quickly and waved
his hat; the man did the same. Nansen heard him speak to the dog, and
recognised that the language was English. As he drew nearer, Nansen
thought he recognised Mr. Jackson, whom he had once seen. They extended
a hand to one another, with a hearty “How do you do?” Explanations
quickly followed, and Nansen was led to Jackson’s hut at Cape Flora.
Here he received a royal welcome from the members of the
Jackson-Harmsworth Expedition. Men were immediately sent to Johansen’s
assistance, and his reception at the hut was scarcely less hospitable
than Nansen’s. Their feelings may be imagined when they were able to
throw off their dirty oily rags and have a hot bath, and to be able to
put on clean clothes. To add to Nansen’s delight, Jackson had a packet
of letters for him, and these contained only good news.
It is an interesting fact that Nansen when he arrived at Cape Flora
weighed no less than 22 lb. more than when he left the _Fram_, and
Johansen weighed 13 lb. more. Bear’s flesh had evidently agreed with
them.
On a comparison of Nansen’s chronometers being made, it was found that
they were not so far out as had been anticipated. They were about 26
minutes wrong, making a difference of 6½° in longitude.
The _Windward_, which was to bring supplies and take home some of
Jackson’s party, arrived on the 26th July. By this time Nansen and
Johansen began to fear that the vessel could not get through the ice and
that they would have to spend another winter in the Arctic regions. News
soon arrived that all was well at home, and that nothing had been heard
of the _Fram_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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