BACK AT FRAMHEIM 261 



our course being true west, when we made out far to 

 the north-west an ice-cape that was taken to be the 

 extreme point on the western side of the bay. Imme- 

 diately after we were on the edge of the Barrier, the 

 direction of which was here south-west and north-east. 

 We altered our course and followed the edge at a proper 

 distance until we saw a familiar iceberg that had broken 

 off to the north of Framheim, but had been stopped by 

 the sea-ice from drifting out. With this excellent mark 

 in view the rest of the way was plain sailing. The 

 sledge-meter showed 19*5 geographical miles, when in 

 the afternoon we came in sight of our winter home. 

 Quiet and peaceful it lay there, if possible more deeply 

 covered in snow than when we had left it. At first we 

 could see no sign of hf e, but soon the glasses discovered 

 a lonely wanderer on his way from the house to the 

 "meteorological institute." So Lindstrom was still 

 alive and performing his duties. 



When we left, our friend had expressed his satisfaction 

 at " getting us out of the way " ; but I have a suspicion 

 that he was quite as pleased to see us back again. I 

 am not quite certain, though, that he did see us for the 

 moment, as he was about as snow-blind as a man can 

 be. Lindstrom was the last person we should have 

 suspected of that malady. On our asking liim how it 

 came about, he seemed at first unwilling to give any 

 explanation; but by degrees it came out that the mis- 

 fortune had happened a couple of days before, when 



