CHAPTER III 

 THE START. 







" So travel I north to the gloomy abode 

 That the sun never shines on 

 There is no day." 



IT was midsummer day. A dull, gloomy day ; and with 

 it came the inevitable leave-taking. The door closed 

 behind me. For the last time I left my home, and went 

 alone down the garden to the beach where the Frams 

 little petroleum launch pitilessly awaited me. Behind me 

 lav all I held dear in life. And what before me ? How 



V 



many years would pass ere I should see it all again ? 

 What w r ould I not have given at that moment to be able 

 to turn back ; but up at the window little Liv was sitting 

 clapping her hands. Happy child, little do you know 

 what life is how strangely mingled and how full of 

 change. Like an arrow the little boat sped over 

 Lysaker Bay, bearing me on the first stage of a journey 

 on which life itself if not more, was staked. 



At last everything was in readiness. The hour had 

 arrived towards which the persevering labour of years 



