THE SPRING AND SUMMER OF iSg4 515 



rays had gained power on the surface of the ice and 

 melted the snow, so that pools were formed, there was 

 soon to be seen at the bottom of these pools small yel- 

 lowish-brown spots, so small that at first one hardly 

 noticed them. Day by day they increased in size, and 

 absorbing, like all dark substances, the heat of the sun's 

 rays, they gradually melted the underlying ice and formed 

 round cavities, often several inches deep. These brown 

 spots were the above-mentioned alga? and diatoms. They 

 developed speedily in the summer light, and would fill 

 the bottoms of the cavities with a thick layer. But there 

 were not plants only, the water also teemed with swarms 

 of animalcules, mostl}' infusoria and fiagellata, which sub- 

 sisted on the plants. I actually found bacteria — even 

 these regions are not free from them ! 



But I could not always remain chained by the micro- 

 scope. Sometimes, when the fine weather tempted me 

 irresistibly, I had to go out and bake myself in the sun, 

 and imagine myself in Norway. 



" Saturday, August 4th. Lovely weather yesterday 

 and to-day. Light, fieecy clouds sailing high aloft 

 through the sparkling azure sky — filling one's soul with 

 lonofino-s to soar as hio'h and as free as thev. I have just 

 been out on deck this evening; one could almost imag- 

 ine one's self at home by the fjord. Saturday evening's 

 peace seemed to rest on the scene and on one's soul. 



" Our sailmakers, Sverdrup and Amundsen, have to- 

 day finished covering the first double'kayak with sail-cloth. 



