The Winter Night. 327 



several years of precious life ; but now I do not grudge 

 them, my object is attained. On the drifting ice we 

 live a winter life, not only in every respect better 

 than that of previous expeditions, but actually as if we 

 had brought a bit of Norway, of Europe, with us. We 

 are as well off as if we were at home. All together in 

 one saloon, with everything in common, we are a little 

 part of the fatherland, and daily we draw closer and 

 closer together. In one point only have my calculations 

 proved incorrect, but unfortunately in one of the most 

 important. I pre-supposed a shallow Polar Sea, the 

 greatest depth known in these regions up till now being 

 So fathoms, found by the Jeannette. I reasoned that 

 all currents would have a strong influence in the shallow 

 Polar Sea, and that on the Asiatic side the current of the 

 Siberian rivers would be strong enough to drive the ice 

 a good way north. But here I already find a depth which 

 we cannot measure with all our line, a depth of certainly 

 1,000 fathoms, and possibly double that. This at once 

 upsets all faith in the operation of a current ; we find 

 either none, or an extremely slight one ; my only trust 

 now is in the winds. Columbus discovered America by 

 means of a mistaken calculation, and even that not his own ; 

 heaven only knows where my mistake will lead us. Only I 

 repeat once more the Siberian driftwood on the coast of 

 Greenland cannot lie, and the way it went we must go. 



" Monday, January 8th. Little Liv is a year old 

 to-day ; it will be a fete day at home. As I was lying 



