272 



SPITSBERGEN 



CHAP. XX 



inconceivable. Pestered, as he had been for weeks, by in- 

 quisitive visitors, he seemed on the defensive, and suspicious 

 of criticism in every question. He had been told that his 

 scheme was in every respect impracticable. "They said I 

 could not set up and inflate my balloon in this place. I have 

 set it up and inflated it. They said it would not hold the 



a£^i|S^ 





^: -_ 





HERR ANDREE'S BALLOON HOUSE. 



gas for a sufficient length of time without leakage. It has 

 now been inflated for ten days or more, and it does not leak. 

 There were two little needle-point holes only, and those we 

 easily mended. We have considered everything and provided 

 against every accident, and now we are certain that, whenever 

 the right wind blows, we can start without a hitch. Un- 

 fortunately since July 15 (this was August 6), there has been 

 no south wind. It is not enough for me that the wind should 



