Vovao-e through the Kara Sea. 191 



^ o o 



The land was low and desolate. The sun had long 

 since eone down behind the sea, and the dreamy 



o 



evening sky was yellow and gold. It was lonely and 

 still up here, high above the water. Only one star was 

 to be seen. It stood straight above Cape Chelyuskin, 

 shining clearly and sadly in the pale sky. As we 

 sailed on and got the cape more to the east of us, 

 the star went with it ; it was always there, straight 

 above. I could not help sitting watching it. It seemed 

 to have some charm for me, and to bring such peace. 

 Was it my star ? Was it the spirit of home 

 following and smiling to me now ? Many a thought 

 it brought to me, as the Fraui toiled on through the 

 melancholy night, past the northernmost point of the 

 old world. 



Towards morning we were off what we took to be 

 actually the northern extremity. We stood in near 

 land, and at the change of the watch, exactly at four 

 o'clock, our Mags were hoisted, and our three last 

 cartridges sent a thundering salute over the sea. 

 Almost at the same moment the sun rose. Then our 

 poetic doctor burst forth into the following touching 

 lines : 



" Up go the flags, off goes the gun ; 

 The clock strikes four and lo, the sun 



As the sun rose, the Chelyuskin troll, that had so long 

 had us in his power, was banned. We had escaped the 



