464 FARTHES2' NORTH 



of that opinion did we begin to recognize that our outer 

 man was, perhaps, open to criticism. 



It was a strange life, and in many ways it put our pa- 

 tience to a severe test ; but it was not so unendurable 

 as one might suppose. We at any rate thought that, all 

 things considered, we were fairly well off. Our spirits 

 were good the whole time ; we looked serenely towards 

 the future, and rejoiced in the thought of all the delights 

 it had in store for us. We did not even have recourse to 

 quarrelling to while away the time. After our return, 

 Johansen was once asked how we two had got on during 

 the winter, and whether we had managed not to fall out 

 with each other ; for it is said to be a severe test for two 

 men to live so long together in perfect isolation. " Oh 

 no," he answered, "we didn't quarrel; the only thing was 

 that I had the bad habit of snoring in my sleep, and 

 then Nansen used to kick me in the back." I cannot 

 deny that this is the case ; I gave him many a well- 

 meant kick, but fortunately he only shook himself a 

 little and slept calmly on. 



Thus did our time pass. We did our best to sleep 

 away as much as possible of it. We carried this art to a 

 high pitch of perfection, and could sometimes put in as 

 much as 20 hours' sleep in the 24. If any one still holds 

 to the old superstition that scurvy is due to lack of ex- 

 ercise, he may look upon us as living evidences to the 

 contrary ; for all the time our health was excellent. As 

 the light now began to return with the spring, however, 



