CHAPTER IV 

 WE SAY GOOD-BYE TO THE " FRAM " 



At last b)' midday on March 14th we finally left the 

 Fravi to the noise of a thundering salute. For the third 

 time farewells and mutual good wishes were exchanged. 

 Some of our comrades came a little way with us, but 

 Sverdrup soon turned back in order to be on board for 

 dinner at i o'clock. It was on the top of a hummock 

 that we two said good-bye to each other; the Frani 

 was lying behind us, and I can remember how I stood 

 watching him as he strode easily homeward on his 

 snow-shoes. I half wished I could turn back with him 

 and find myself again in the warm saloon ; I knew only 

 too well that a life of toil lay before us, and that it would 

 be many a long day before we should again sleep and eat 

 under a comfortable roof; but that that time was going 

 to be so long as it really proved to be, none of us then 

 had any idea. We all thought that either the expedi- 

 tion would succeed, and that we should return home that 

 same year, or — that it would not succeed. 



A little while after Sverdrup had left us, Mogstad 

 also found it necessary to turn back. He had thought 



