The Spring and Summer of 1894. 443 



covered with sealskin or sailcloth, and to be decked all 

 over, except for two holes one for each man. 



" I feel that we have, or rather shall have, everything 

 needful for a brilliant retreat. Sometimes I seem almost 

 to be lono-ino- for a defeat a decisive one so that we 



o o 



might have a chance of showing what is in us, and 

 putting an end to this irksome inactivity. 



" Monday, July 3<Dth. Westerly wind, with north- 

 westerly by way of a pleasant variety ; such is our daily- 

 fare week after week. On coming up in the morning, I 

 no lono-er care to look at the weather-cock on the mast- 



O 



head, or at the line in the water ; for I know beforehand 

 that the former points east or south-east, and the line in 

 the contrary direction, and that we are ever bearing to 

 the south-east. Yesterday it was 81 7' N. lat., the day 

 before 81 11', and last Monday, July 25th, 81 26'. 



" But it occupies my thoughts no longer. I know well 

 enough there will be a change some time or other, and 

 the way to the stars leads through adversity. I have 

 found a new world ; and that is the world of animal 

 and plant life that exists in almost every fresh-water 

 pool on the ice-floes. From morning till evening and 

 till late in the night I am absorbed with the microscope, 

 and see nothing around me ; I live with these tiny 

 beings in their separate universe, where they are born 

 and die, generation after generation, where they pursue 

 each other in the struggle for life, and carry on their 

 love affairs with the same feelings, the same sufferings, 



