Farewell to Norway. 99 



the halt-deck of his ten-oared boat, and stared at us as 

 we steamed past the breakwater ; and on the revenue 

 cutter outside there was a man fishing in that early 

 morning light. 



This last impression of Norway was just the right one 

 for us to carry away with us. Such beneficent peace 

 and calm ; such a rest for the thoughts ; no hubbub and 

 turmoil of people with their hurrahs and salutes. The 

 masts in the harbour, the house roofs and chimneys stood 

 out against the cool morning sky. Just then the sun 

 broke through the mist, and smiled over the shore- 

 rugged, bare, and weatherworn in the hazy morning, but 

 still lovely dotted here and there with tiny houses and 

 boats, and all Norway lay behind it. ... 



While the Fram was slowly and quietly working her 

 way out to sea, towards our distant goal, I stood and 

 watched the land gradually fading away on the horizon. 

 I wonder what will happen to her and to us, before we 

 again see Norway rising up over the sea ? 



But a fog soon came on, and obscured everything. 



And through fog, nothing but fog, we steamed away 

 for four days without stopping, until, when I came on 

 deck on the morning of the 25th of July, behold clear 

 weather ! The sun was shining in a cloudless sky, the 

 bright blue sea was heaving with a gentle swell. Again 

 it was good to be a living- being, and to drink in the 

 peacefulness of the sea in long draughts. Towards noon 

 we sighted Goose Land on Novaya Zemlya, and stood in 



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