CHAPTER XX. 



NANSEN, THE MODERN VIKING. 



jpridtjof Nansen, subject of the king of Norway, descendant of the vikings 

 who braved the perils of ice and storm in early ages, surpassed Greely's 

 "farthest north," and established a record which it remained for Peary to beat. 



There have been few polar explorers of greater courage and physical equip- 

 ment for the hardships of the Arctic than Nansen. Of powerful frame and 

 dauntless bravery, he is a mighty hunter, a man of tremendous determination, 

 and shrewd in the ways of the wilderness. Had it not been given to Peary 

 and Cook to find the pole in 1909, it may well be believed that Nansen would 

 have reached it in a few years. 



The first great exploit for which Nansen is famous is the crossing of 

 Greenland, which meant the traversing of the immense glacier which covers 

 the whole central part of the island, the scaling of enormous ice-mountains, 

 and the slaying of fierce wild beasts, lest he himself be slain. The feat was ac- 

 complished in the summer of 1888, five men accompanying Nansen, and mak- 

 ing part of the journey by sledges, which they hauled themselves, as they had 

 no dogs. The route led over great snow-wastes, never before trod by human 

 foot, and up mountains, some of which were 9,000 feet high. Part of the way- 

 led over water to cross which it was necessary for the party to drag a boat 

 along. Frequently the thermometer fell 40 below zero; once to 49 below. 

 This journey, a distance of about 800 miles, was accomplished in ninety days. 

 On his return Nansen found himself a hero. He arrived in Copenhagen May 

 21, 1889, was attended by a demonstration remarkably similar to that accorded 

 Dr. Cook when the latter returned from the Arctic. Immense crowds met Nan- 

 sen at the dock, and although royalty in person did not accord him the same 

 honors that fell to Cook, he was lionized in every way scientific bodies could 

 devise. During the summer he visited all the European capitals, and his per- 

 sonality became as well known as that of any famous man on earth. 



The natural result of this was that when, a year or two later, Nansen con- 

 ceived the ambition to reach the north pole, he received enthusiastic support. 



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