384 FARTHEST NORTH 



where I stand gazing out at the welter of ice-masses that 

 resemble giant snakes writhing and twisting their great 

 bodies out there under the quiet, starry sky, whose peace 

 is only broken by one aurora serpent waving and flick- 

 ering restlessly in the northeast. I once more think 

 what a comfort it is to be safe on board the Fram, and 

 look out with a certain contempt at the horrible hurly- 

 burly Nature is raising to no purpose whatever; it will 

 not crush us in a hurry, nor even frighten us. Suddenly 

 I remember that my fine thermometer is in a hole on a 

 floe to port on the other side of the opening, and must 

 certainly be in danger, I jump on to the ice, find a 

 place where I can leap across the opening, and grope 

 about in the dark until I find the piece of ice covering 

 the hole; I get hold of the string, and the thermometer 

 is saved. I hurry on board again well pleased, and down 

 into my comfortable cabin to smoke a pipe of peace — alas! 

 this vice grows upon me more and more — and to listen 

 with glee to the roar of the pressure outside and feel its 

 shakings, like so many earthquakes, as I sit and write my 

 diary. Safe and comfortable, I cannot but think with 

 deep pity of the many who have had to stand by on deck 

 in readiness to leave their frail vessels on the occurrence 

 of any such pressure. The poor Tcgethoff fellows — they 

 had a bad time of it, and yet theirs was a good ship in 

 comparison with many of the others. It is now 11.30, 

 and the noise outside seems to be subsiding. 



" It is remarkable that we should have this strono; 



