312 A DAY AT FRAMHEIM 



the trap-door; a dazzling light met my eyes. In the 

 wall of the steps leading down from the surface a 

 recess had been cut to hold a wooden case lined with 

 bright tin; this contained a little lamp which produced 

 this powerful light. But it was the surroundings that 

 made it so bright ice and snow everywhere. Now I 

 could look about me for the first time; it had been 

 dark when I came in the morning. There was the 

 snow-tunnel leading to the pent-house; I could see 

 that by the threshold that grinned at me. But there, 

 in the opposite direction, what was there? I could see 

 that the passage was continued, but where did it lead? 

 Standing in the bright light, it looked quite dark in the 

 tunnel. 



' Now we will go and see Bjaaland first." With 

 these words my companion bent down, and set off 

 through the dark passage. ' Look there, in the snow- 

 wall just under our feet can you see the light?" By 

 degrees my eyes had accustomed themselves to the 

 darkness of the tunnel, and I could see a greenish light 

 shining through the snow-wall where he pointed. And 

 now another noise fell on my ears a monotonous 

 sound coming from below. 



" Look out for the steps !" Yes, he could be sure of 

 that; I had come one cropper that day, and it was 

 enough. We once more descended into the Barrier by 

 broad, solid snow-steps covered with boards. Suddenly 

 a door was opened a sliding-door in the snow-wall 



