572 THE GERMAN AECTIC EXPEDITION. 



real Polar basin had remained sealed. But we liad been 

 allowed, by observation and investigation of tlie principles 

 of natural science and navigation, to contribute no incon- 

 siderable share of knowledge, both of the laws and the 

 principal phenomena of the Arctic world, so that the 

 real North Pole question was at any rate theoretically 

 nearer its solution. Conscious of this, we comforted 

 ourselves for the many hopes left unfulfilled, and the 

 many objects unattained. 



There remain but a few words to be said regarding 

 our return voyage. Captain Koldewey chose the course 

 past Iceland, between the Faroe and Shetland Isles, in 

 order to take some soundings at the confluence of the 

 Gulf-stream and the Arctic current, as well as some 

 measurements of temperature. But stormy weather, 

 with but slight interruption, lasted almost to the Weser, 

 and hindered the work so much, that the result was very 

 indifferent. 



On the 10th of September we were a few miles from 

 Heligoland. A heavy storm blew from the south-west, 

 but in the evening shifted to the north-west, enabling us 

 to run into shore. At daybreak, though we had seen 

 no pilot, we recognized Langerooge, and steered along 

 the South-wall to the mouth of the Weser. No sign of 

 a ship ! The Weser seemed to have died out. Where 

 are the pilots hidden ? Are they lying perdu on account 

 of yesterday's storm ? Well, then, we must run into the 

 Weser without them ; the wind is favourable, the weather 

 clear, the outer buoy will be easy to find ; there is the 

 church-tower of Wangerooge. Suspecting nothing, we 

 steered on; the tower bears S.S.W., south-west by 

 south, south-west, but no buoy in sight. The Captain 



