594 FARTHEST NORTH 



asleep when I came on deck. The whole sound was 

 crowded with boats. We had been going slowly 

 through them, but now the Haalogalaud in front put on 

 more speed, and we too went a little quicker. A fisher- 

 man in his boat toiled at the oars to keep up with us; it 

 was no easy work. Then he shouted up to me : 



" You don't want to buy any fish, do you T 



" No, I don't think we do." 



" I suppose you can't tell me where Nansen is.f^ Is he 

 on board the Frani T 



" No, I believe he's on board this ship," was the reply. 



"Oh, I wonder if I couldn't get on board .f* I'm so 

 desperately anxious to see him." 



" It can hardly be done, I'm afraid; they haven't time 

 to stop now." 



" That's a pity. I want to see the man himself." 



He went on rowing. It became harder and harder to 

 keep up, but he stared fixedly at me as I leaned on the 

 rail smiling, while Christofersen stood laughing at my 

 side. 



" Since you're so anxious to see the man himself, I 

 may tell you that you see him now," said I. 



"Is it you .^ Is it you .^ Didn't I guess as much! 

 Welcome home again !" 



And thereupon the fisherman dropped his oars, stood 

 up in his boat, and took off his cap. As w^e went on 

 through the splendor of the morning, and I sat on the 

 deck of the luxurious Enq-lish vacht and saw the beauti- 



