UNDERGROUND FRAMHEIM 309 



then in charge of the dogs, put off in a boat, and finally 

 succeeded in overtaking him, but they had a hard tussle 

 before they managed to get him on board. Afterwards 

 Wisting had a swimming-race with the Colonel, but I 

 don't remember what was the result. We can expect a 

 great deal of these dogs. There's Johansen's tent over 

 in the corner; there is not much to be said about 

 his dogs. The most remarkable of them is Camilla. 

 She is an excellent mother, and brings up her 

 children very well; she usually has a whole army of 

 them, too. 



' Now I expect you have seen dogs enough, so, if you 

 have no objection, I will show you underground Fram- 

 heim and what goes on there. I may just as well add 

 that we are proud of this work, and you will probably 

 find that we have a right to be. We'll begin with 

 Hassel, as his department is nearest." 



We now went in the direction of the house, passed 

 its western end, and soon arrived at an erection that 

 looked like a derrick. Underneath it was a large trap- 

 door. Where the three legs of the derrick met, there 

 was made fast a small block, and through the block ran 

 a rope, made fast at one end to the trap-door. A 

 weight hung at the other end, some feet above the 

 surface of the snow. 



' Now we are at Hassel's," said my companion. It 

 was a good thing he could not see me, for I must have 

 looked rather foolish. At Hassel's? I said to myself. 



