2'HE THIRD SUMMER 705 



" In the early morning two thundering reports were suddenly- 

 heard from the Fravi, followed by the ringing cheers of the 

 crew in honor of their absent comrades. The inhabitants of 

 the place, who were fast asleep, were quite startled, and soon 

 got out of bed ; but when it finally dawned upon them that it 

 could be none other than the Frani, they were not slow in turn- 

 ing out to have a look at her. 



" As they anchored here, the fragrance of the new-mown hay 

 was wafted to them from the shore, and to them it seemed mar- 

 vellous. The green meadows with their humble flowers, and 

 the few trees bent and almost withered by the merciless wind 

 and weather, looked to them so delightful that our poor island 

 was a veritable Eden in their eyes. ' Yes, to-day they would 

 have a good roll on the grass.' 



" For the rest. Mother Nature was as smiling and festally 

 arrayed as could be expected so late in the year in these north- 

 ern latitudes. The fjord was calm, as though it feared by the 

 faintest ripple to interrupt the tranquillity which enveloped the 

 tried and weather-beaten warrior now resting upon its smooth 

 surface. 



" They were all quite enthusiastic about the vessel. I do 

 not believe there is a man on board who does not love the 

 Frain. Sverdrup declared that a ' stronger and finer ship had 

 never been built, and was not to be found in the wide world !' " 



On my way to the fjord I met five of our comrades. Nor- 

 dahl hurried at once on board with the glad tidings, while the 

 rest of us settled down with the telegraph manager around a 

 smoking cup of coffee, which tasted delicious. A better wel- 

 come we could not have had. But it did not end with the 

 coffee or with the telegraph manager. Soon the popping of 

 champagne corks sounded successively in the houses of the 

 store-keeper and local magistrate, while the telegraph manager 

 sent message upon message announcing our arrival to Dr. Nan- 

 sen, his Majesty the King, the Norwegian Government, and to 

 relations and friends. 



At 10 A.M. we weighed anchor and set off to meet Nansen 

 11.-45 



