April 4B, 1909
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[Calculation] subtracting 84˚ 4' from 86˚ 14' Why did Nansen make no attempt to regain his ship when he found he could no longer advance? He had travelled but 130 miles, his tracks earliest tracks were but 3 weeks old. He would certainly have followed his own trail back at least 1/2 the distance, & then he should at least have been able to hit within 5 miles of the ship & pick her up. She would drift very little in 5 or 6 weeks. Was he ashamed to go back after so short an absence, or had there been a row & the Fram made uncomfortable for him; or did he go off for Franz Joseph [vertically in the margin:] Land from sensational motives, & business reasons? His area of rough ice could have been rounded As I ran ahead to guide the dogs obliged to slide my feet & travel wide, bear style. One runner of one sledge cut through for some distance but the sledge kept up. The men let sledges & dogs come on by themselves & came gliding across where they could. The last two came over on all fours. Sledge ran over side of my right foot as result of my stumbling while running but think it will give me no trouble. Am tired but satisfied with our progress. We are in sight of 89˚. Give me three days more of this weather. [Vertically in margin:] Temp. at beginning of march -40˚ Put all poorest dogs in one team tonight & began expending them.
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