122 Chapter IV 7 . 



lashed at the reindeer, and drove " amuck "in among the 

 tents, over the tied-up dogs, foxes, and whatever came in 

 his way ; he himself fell off the sledge, was caught in the 

 reins, and dragged behind, shrieking, through sand and 

 clay. Good Saint Elias must be much flattered by such 

 homage. Towards morning the howling gradually died 

 away, and the whole town slept the loathsome sleep of 

 the drunkard. 



There was not a man to be got to help with our coal- 

 shifting next day. Most of them slept all clay after the 

 orgie of the night. We had just to do without help ; 

 but we had not finished by evening, and I began to 

 be impatient to get away. Precious time was passing ; 

 I had long ago given up the Urania. We did not really 

 need more coal. The wind had been favourable for 

 several days. It was a south wind, which was certainly 

 blowing the ice to the northward in the Kara Sea. 

 Sverdrup was now positive that we should be able to sail 

 in open water all the way to the New Siberian Islands, 

 so it was his opinion that there was no hurry for the 

 present. But hope is a frail reed to lean on, and my 

 expectations were not quite so bright ; so I hurried 

 things on, to get away as soon as possible. 



At the supper table this evening King Oscar's gold 

 medal of merit was solemnly presented to Trontheim, 

 in recognition of the great care with which he had 

 executed his difficult commission, and the valuable 

 assistance thereby rendered to the expedition. His 



