NANSEN MEETS JACKSON 103 



credulous. The sound ceased, and, breakfast over, 

 Nansen went forth to investigate. Soon he came on 

 the footprints of a dog or wolf, and then, still doubting, 

 he heard a distant yelping that certainly came not from 

 a wolf. Making his way among the hummocks, he 

 heard a shout from a human voice, a strange voice- 

 the first for three years. Running up on to a hum- 

 mock he shouted with all his might. Back came a 

 shout in reply ; and among the hummocks he caught 

 sight of a dog, and further off a man walked into view. 

 The man spoke to the dog in English. Thinking he 

 recognised Jackson, Nansen raised his hat as he met 

 him, and they shook hands heartily. 



The contrast could not have been greater. One the 

 well-groomed, civilised European in a check suit and 

 rubber water-boots, the other in dirty rags black with 

 oil and soot, with long matted hair and shaggy beard, 

 and a face in which the complexion was undiscernible 

 through the accumulations which a winter's endeavours, 

 including scrapings with a knife, had failed to remove. 

 As they talked they had turned to go inland. Sud- 

 denly Jackson stopped, and, looking the new arrival 

 straight in the face, said- 



" Aren't you Nansen ?" 



"Yes, I am." 



" By Jove ! I'm damned glad to see you." 



And seizing his hand he shook it again, his whole 

 face beaming with a smile of welcome and delight at 

 the unexpected meeting ; and needless to say, both 

 Nansen and Johansen received the warmest of wel- 

 comes from all at Elmwood. The Windward was then 

 on her way, and when she arrived the two Norsemen 



