FAREWELL TO CHRISTIANIA 93 



admitted that they had good reason for their specula- 

 tions. By an observation house is usually meant a 

 comparatively simple construction, sufficient to provide 

 the necessary shelter from wind and weather. Our 

 house, on the other hand, was a model of solidity, with 

 three double walls, double roof and floor. Its arrange- 

 ments included ten inviting bunks, a kitchener, and 

 a table ; the latter, moreover, had a brand-new American- 

 cloth cover. " I can understand that they want to keep 

 themselves warm when they're making observations," 

 said Helmer Hanssen; 'but what they want with a 

 cloth on the table I can't make out." 



On the afternoon of June 6 it was announced that 

 everything was ready, and in the evening we all assem- 

 bled at a simple farewell supper in the garden. I took 

 the opportunity of wishing good luck to every man in 

 turn, and finally we united in a 



" God preserve the King and Fatherland ! " 



Then we broke up. The last man to get into the boat was 

 the second in command ; he arrived armed with a horse- 

 shoe. In his opinion it is quite incredible what luck an 

 old horseshoe will bring. Possibly he is right. Any- 

 how, the horseshoe was firmly nailed to the mast in the 

 Fram's saloon, and there it still hangs. 



When on board, we promptly set to work to get up 

 the anchor. The Bolinder motor hummed, and the 

 heavy cable rattled in through the hawse-hole. Precisely 



