320 Chapter VI. 



bringing ? Good and evil, no doubt, but most good. It 

 cannot but be that we shall go forward towards our goal, 

 and towards home. 



" Life is rich and wreathed in roses ; 

 Gaze forth into a world of dreams." 



Yes, lead us, if not to our goal that would be too early 

 at least towards it ; strengthen our hope ; but perhaps 

 no, no perhaps. These brave boys of mine deserve to 

 succeed. There is not a doubt in their minds. Each 

 one's whole heart is set on getting north ; I can read it 

 in their faces it shines from every eye. There is one 

 sigh of disappointment every time that we hear that we 

 are drifting south, one sigh of relief when we begin to 

 go north again, to the unknown. And it is in me and 

 my theories that they trust. What if I have been 

 mistaken, and am leading them astray ? Oh, I could 

 not help myself! We are the tools of powers beyond us. 

 We are born under lucky or unlucky stars. Till now I 

 have lived under a lucky one ; is its light to be darkened ? 

 I am superstitious, no doubt, but I believe in my star. 

 And Norway, our fatherland, what has the old year 

 brought to thee, and what is the new year bringing ? 

 Vain to think of that ; but I look at our pictures, the 

 gifts of Werenskjold, Munthe, Kitty Kielland, Skredsvig, 

 Hansteen, Eilif Pettersen, and I am at home, at home ! 



" Wednesday, January 3rd. The old lane about 1,300 

 feet ahead of the Fraui has opened again a large rift, 



