336 A DAY AT FRAMHEIM 



why had he brought in eight two enormous dishes with 

 four on each? Good heavens! one of the vikings 

 had just started, and was making short work of his 

 mountain. And one after another they all walked into 

 them, until the whole eight had disappeared. I should 

 have nothing to say about hunger, misery, and cold, 

 when I came home. My head was going round; the 

 temperature must have been as many degrees above 

 zero in here as it was below zero outside. I looked 

 up atWisting's bunk, where a thermometer was hanging: 

 + 95 F. The vikings did not seem to take the slightest 

 notice of this trifle ; their work with the " Napoleons ' 

 continued undisturbed. 



Soon the gorgeous cake was a thing of the past, and 

 cigars came out. Everyone, without exception, allowed 

 himself this luxury. Up to now they had not shown 

 much sign of abstinence; I wanted to know what was 

 their attitude with regard to strong drinks. I had 

 heard, of course, that indulgence in alcohol on Polar 

 expeditions was very harmful, not to say dangerous. 

 " Poor boys!" I thought to myself; "that must be the 

 reason of your fondness for cake. A man must have 

 one vice, at least. Deprived of the pleasure of drink- 

 ing, they make up for it in gluttony." Yes, now I 

 could see it quite plainly, and I was heartily sorry for 

 them. I wondered how the " Napoleons ' felt now; 

 they looked rather depressed. No doubt the cake took 

 some time to settle down. 



