THE THIRD SUMMER 703 



and often fresh breeze, the vessel making good speed : upward 

 of 9^ knots. 



At 9 A.M. on the 19th we saw the first blue ridges of our 

 native mountains. By noon we sighted Logo, and at 8 P.M. the 

 north point of Loppen. Then we steered into Kvaenangen 

 Fjord, and anchored off Skjaervo at 2 o'clock in the morning of 

 August 20th. 



As soon as the anchor had fallen, I called the doctor and 

 Scott-Hansen, who both wanted to go ashore with me. But as 

 they were too slow with their toilet, I asked Bentzen to put me 

 ashore in the pram, and was soon at the telegraph station, where 

 I tried to knock life into the people by thundering with my 

 clinched fist first at one door, then at another, but for a long 

 time in vain. At last a man put his head out of a window on 

 the second floor to inquire what kind of night-prowlers were 

 making such a disturbance. It was the chief of the telegraph 

 station himself. He describes the nocturnal incident in a letter 

 to one of the Christiania newspapers in the following pleasant 

 manner : 



" It was with anything but amiable feelings and intentions 

 that at about half-past four I turned out to see what wretch 

 it was who was making such a lively rattle at my front door. 

 Rather lightly clad, I put my head out of the window, and 

 roared out, 'Hallo! What's the matter? Deuce of a noise to 

 make at this time of night !' 



" A man dressed in gray, with a heavy beard, stepped for- 

 ward. There was something about his appearance that made 

 me think at once that I had perhaps been somewhat too hasty 

 in giving vent to my displeasure at being called up, and I felt a 

 little crestfallen when he slyly remarked, ' Yes, that's true; but 

 all the same I must ask you to open the door. I come from the 

 Frani' Immediately it dawned upon me who it was. It could 

 be none other than Sverdrup. ' Coming directly, captain,' I an- 

 swered, and jumping into the most necessary clothes, down I 

 went to let him in. He was not at all annoyed at the long 

 waiting, or the unfriendly words with which he had been re- 



