CHAPTER XXVII. 



CLOSED IN AND SHUT OUT. 



As I wished to see how far the thaw had progressed in Gaasefjord, 

 we decided to go overland to the Tram/ and let the boat stay 

 where it was. 



On August 7, at six in the morning, all four of us set off. 

 It was a tiring march ; we sank into the snow to the ankles, and 

 in some places to the calf of the leg. On the plains, near Aamot, 

 we saw three reindeer, which were coming north on the other 

 side of the river. It could never have occurred to us to wade 

 to our arm-pits for the sake of these three reindeer ; but we 

 were quite willing to wait and see if they would come within 

 range of their own accord. So we settled down, stewed some 



o * 



pemrnican, and whiled away the time. But the reindeer made 

 no advances, and we continued on our way, arriving on board 

 again about seven. 



A sorrowful sight met us in Gaasefjord. Round the ship 

 was indeed some open water from the mouths of the rivers, but 

 miserably little of it. We had expected it to extend for a much 

 greater distance. Sad as this was, it yet had its natural reasons ; 

 for north wind and clammy fogs had prevailed this summer, 

 and of late the temperature had been below freezing point. 

 There lay the ' Fram,' ready for sea at a moment's notice, 

 tugging now and again at her moorings as if she would remind 

 us that it was time to be standing for old Norway, where, no 

 doubt, they expected us home in the autumn. But she pulled 

 so gently, so carefully : she was used to waiting and enduring. 



On a trip down the fjord, Fosheim had found the ice more 

 than a yard in thickness. Outside the larger streams or rivers 

 there was a pool or two to be seen, but that was all. 



318 



