NANSEN'S EXPEDITION (1895) 223 



clouds. It had long been expected, and now it gave the 

 travellers great joy. 



On 29th July, Nansen began to suffer from lumbago, 

 probably caused by sleeping on the bare ice. It gave 

 him severe pain during several days. 



When land was first seen, Johansen expressed the 

 opinion that it would be reached next day. Due, how- 

 ever, chiefly to the drift, the journey occupied thirteen 

 days. 



On the 4th of August, Johansen nearly lost his life. 

 They had reached a lane, and were preparing to launch 

 the kayaks, when Nansen heard Johansen cry to him to 

 take the gun. On looking; round to see what was the 

 matter, he saw an enormous bear standing over Johansen, 

 who was on his back. Nansen tried to seize his gun, but 

 his kayak slipped into the water, and it took some little 

 time to pull it out again and to reach the gun, which was 

 in its case on the fore-deck. Luckily one of the dogs 

 came to the rescue, and the bear turned its attentions to 

 it. This enabled Johansen to wriggle himself out of its 

 grasp, and the next moment Nansen fired, and the bear 

 dropped dead. 



At last, on the 6th of August, open water was reached. 

 For some time the dogs had been reduced to two in 

 number, and now that open water had been gained, 

 Nansen could not see how the two dogs could be taken 

 farther. He was sorry to part with them ; they had 

 been faithful and enduring, and had followed him the 

 whole journey through. A cartridge was sacrificed on 

 each. 



The two kayaks were lashed together, and the sledges 

 placed on deck, one in front and one behind. Before 

 going far, the wind rose sufficiently to enable a sail to be 

 used, and soon the margin of a glacier was reached. This 

 was from 50 to 60 feet in height, and landing was there- 



