LEFT IN CHARGE 205 



opportunity for weighing every possibility, good and 

 bad ; but there was very little to be gained by indulging 

 in speculations of that sort. The immediate facts first 

 claimed attention. One fact, amongst others, was 

 that Framheim was a good three miles away; another 

 was that the cinematograph apparatus weighed a good 

 many pounds; and a third that Lindstrom would be 

 mightily put out if I arrived too late for dinner. Our 

 chef insisted on a high standard of punctuality in the 

 matter of meal-times. Homeward, then, at the best 

 speed possible. The speed, however, was not particularly 

 good, and I began to prepare for the consequences of a 

 long delay. On the other side of the bay I could just 

 make out a little black speck, that seemed to be in 

 motion towards me. I thought at first it was a seal, 

 but, fortunately, it turned out to be Jorgen Stubberud 

 with six dogs and a sledge. This was quite encouraging: 

 in the first place, I should get rid of my unmanageable 

 burden, and in the second I might expect to get on 

 faster. Stubberud's team consisted, however, of four 

 intractable puppies, besides Puss and another courser of 

 similar breed ; the result was that our pace was a modest 

 one and our course anything but straight, so that we 

 arrived at Framheim two hours after the time appointed 

 for dinner. Those who know anything of Master 

 Lindstrom and his disposition will easily be able from 

 this explanation to form an idea of his state of mind at 

 the moment when we entered the door. Yes, he was 



