THE JOURNEY SOUTHWARD 589 



as you are." I was a little surprised at all this urgency^ 

 and asked what it was all about. He said he did not 

 know, but it w^as evidently something pressing. I never- 

 theless put on my clothes, and then went out into the 

 saloon. There stood a grentleman with a teles^ram in 

 his hand, who introduced himself as the head of the tele- 

 graph-ofifice, and said that he had a telegram to deliver 

 to me which he thought would interest me, so he had 

 come with it himself. Something that would interest 

 me .^ There was only one thing left in the world that 

 could really interest me. With trembling hands I tore 

 open the telegram : 



" Fridtjof Nansen : 



" Frain arrived in good condition. All well on board. 

 Shall start at once for Tromso. Welcome home ! 



" Otto Sverdrup." 



I felt as if I should have choked, and all I could say 

 was, " The Fram has arrived !" Sir George, who was 

 standing by, gave a great leap of joy; Johansen's face 

 was radiant; Christofersen was quite overcome with glad- 

 ness ; and there in the midst of us 'stood the head of the 

 telegraph - ofifice enjoying the effect he had produced. 

 In an instant I dashed into my cabin to shout to my wife 

 that the Fram had arrived. She was dressed and out in 

 double-quick time. But I could scarcely believe it — it 

 seemed like a fairy tale. I read the telegram again and 



