514 FARTHEST NORTH 



struggle to push our way on through the labyrinth of life, 

 their struggles are assuredly no less fierce than ours — one 

 incessant, restless hurrying to and fro, pushing all others 

 aside, to burrow out for themselves what is needful to 

 them. And as to love, only mark with what passion they 

 seek each other out. With all our brain-cells, we do not 

 feel more strongly than they, never live so entirely for a 

 sensation. But what is life ? What matters the individ- 

 ual's sufferino- so Ions: ^^ the struQ-ale oroes on ? 



" And these are small, one-celled lumps of viscous 

 matter, teeming in thousands and millions, on nearly 

 every single fioe over the whole of this boundless sea, 

 which we are apt to regard as the realm of death. Mother 

 Nature has a remarkable power of producing life every- 

 where — even this ice is a fruitful soil for her. 



" In the evening a little variety occurred in our un- 

 eventful existence, Johansen having discovered a bear to 

 the southeast of the ship, but out of range. It had, no 

 doubt, been prowling about for some time while we were 

 below at supper, and had been quite near us; but, being 

 alarmed by some sound or other, had gone off eastward. 

 Sverdrup and I set out after it, but to no purpose ; the 

 lanes hindered us too much, and, moreover, a fog came 

 on, so that we had to return after having gone a good 

 distance." 



The world of organisms I above alluded to was the 

 subject of special research through the short summer, and 

 in many respects was quite remarkable. When the sun's 



