458 NEW LAND. . 



I had lived for almost a quarter of a year. It was not without a 

 feeling of sadness that I saw the last glimpse of the spot as we 

 rounded the steep bluffs of Stormkap, for although my life there 

 had been solitary and monotonous enough except on occasions 

 when it had been extremely lively I felt I was leaving a home 

 where I knew every stone and every irregularity of the ground ; a 

 place I had known in calm and the glory of sunshine, as well as 

 during the raging of the storms. And then, too, I had a feeling as if 

 peace and quietness were at an end, for east of Stormkap began 

 for me the great busy world, which for so long now I had almost 

 forgotten.' 



As we sat talking in the tent after Bay had related his 

 experiences, he hinted that perhaps it was time for- him to return 

 on board. The animals and plants would be more advanced near 

 the Tram's' harbour than here; and probably too the insects 

 would soon be showing themselves up on the slopes there. The 

 melting of the snow had long begun, and there were signs of an 

 early spring and summer in other words, he asked permission 

 to resign his appointment. 



Three months alone at Bjorneborg during the latter part of 

 the time undergoing a sort of cold-water cure was no joke, even 

 for a person who is something of the nature of a wader, and 

 he was immediately and honourably released from office. As 

 Isachsen and Hassel were still north, however, the post could 

 not forthwith be done away with; they must have a fortress to 

 fall back on, and Bay consequently a successor in his appointment. 

 Fosheim immediately offered to take his place, and his services 

 were accepted. 



We then arranged the following plan : as soon as I arrived 

 on board I would send a party west with a double duty. If 

 Isachsen and Hassel had not returned to Bjorneborg by the 

 time the party reached it, they were- to go on northward at once, 

 to Land's End, to look for them, taking Fosheim with them, and 

 if they fell in with them there, pilot them across the mountains. 

 If they did not meet Isachsen and Hassel, they were to leave the 

 necessary instructions at Land's End, and go back to Bjorneborg. 



