588 FARTHEST NORTH 



the present, it was his intention, after having carried out 

 his expedition to Novaya Zemlya, to skirt along the edge 

 of the ice, and see if he could not pick up any news 

 of us. Then, just at the right moment, we made our 

 appearance at Hammerfest. In the evening, my wife 

 arrived, and my secretary, Christofersen ; and after hav- 

 ing attended a brilliant fete given that night by the 

 town of Hammerfest in our honor, we took up our quar- 

 ters on board the Otaria, where the days now glided 

 past so smoothly that we scarcely noticed the lapse of 

 time. Telegrams of congratulation, and testimonies of 

 goodwill and heartv rejoicing, arrived in an unbroken 

 stream from all quarters of the world. 



But the Frani ? I had telegraphed confidently that 

 I expected lier home this year; but why had she not 

 already arrived } I began more and more to think over 

 this, and the more I calculated all chances and possibili- 

 ties, the more firmly was I convinced that she ought to 

 be out of the ice bv this time if nothincf had Q-one amiss. 

 It was strange that she was not already here, and I 

 thought with horror that if the autumn should pass with- 

 out news of her, the coming winter and summer would 

 be anything but pleasfmt. 



Just as I had turned out on the morning of August 

 20th, Sir George knocked at my door and said there was 

 a man there who insisted on speaking to me. I an- 

 swered that I wasn't dressed yet, but that I would come 

 immediately. " Oh, that doesn't matter," said he; "come 



