132 FARTHEST NORTH 



away, and the whole town slept the loathsome sleep of 

 the drunkard. 



There was not a man to be got to help with our coal- 

 shifting next day. Most of them slept all day after the 

 orgie of the night. We had just to do without help; 

 but we had not finished by evening, and I began to be 

 impatient to get away. Precious time was passing; I 

 had long ago given up the Urania. We did not really 

 need more coal. The wind had been favorable for sev- 

 eral days. It was a south wind, which was certainly 

 blowino: the ice to the northward in the Kara Sea. 

 Sverdrup was now positive that we should be able to sail 

 in open water all the way to the New Siberian Islands, 

 so it was his opinion that there was no hurry for the 

 present. But hope is a frail reed to lean on, and my 

 expectations were not quite so bright; so I hurried 

 things on, to get away as soon as possible. 



At the supper-table this evening King Oscar's gold 

 medal of merit was solemnly presented to Trontheim, in 

 recognition of the Q:reat care with which he had executed 

 his difficult commission, and the valuable assistance 

 thereby rendered to the expedition. His honest face 

 beamed at the sight of the beautiful medal and the bright 

 ribbon. 



Next day, August 3d, we were at last ready for a start, 

 and the 34 dogs were brought on board in the afternoon, 

 with great noise and confusion. They were all tied 

 up on the deck forward, and began by providing more 



