328 A DAY AT FRAMHEIM 



shape. When the experiment was repeated, and I 

 understood the situation, I could not help roaring, too, 

 but Lindstrom was so deeply occupied that he did not 

 hear me. After amusing himself for about ten minutes 

 with this, he got tired of Olava, and put her up on the 

 weight again. She sat there nodding and bowing until 

 she was forgotten. 



Meanwhile Lindstrom had gone to his bunk, and 

 was lying half in it. Now, I thought to myself, he 

 is going to take a little nap before dinner. But no; he 

 came out again at once, holding a tattered old pack of 

 cards in his hand. He went back to his place, and began 

 a quiet and serious game of patience. It did not take 

 long, and was probably not very complicated, but it 

 served its purpose. One could see what a pleasure it 

 was to him whenever a card came in its right place. 

 Finally, all the cards were in order; he had finished the 

 game. He sat a little while longer, enjoying the sight 

 of the finished packs ; then he picked them all up with 

 a sigh, and rose, mumbling : : Yes, he'll get to the 

 Pole, that's sure; and, what's more, he'll get there 

 first." He put the cards back on the shelf in his bunk, 

 and looked well pleased with himself. 



Then the process of laying the table began once 

 more, but with far less noise than in the morning; 

 there was nobody to be annoyed by it now. At five 

 minutes to twelve a big ship's bell was rung, and not long 

 after the diners began to arrive. They did not make 



