SECOND AUTUMN IN THE ICE 533 



begun here and there. I was stopped at last by a broad 

 open lane lying pretty nearly north and south ; at places 

 it was 400 to 500 yards across, and I saw no end to it 

 either north or south. The surface was good ; one got 

 along quickly, with no exertion at all when it was in the 

 direction of the wind. 



" This is undeniably a monotonous life. Sometimes it 

 feels to me like a long dark night, my life's ' Ragnarok,'* 

 dividing it into two. . . . ' The sun is darkened, the 

 summers with it, all weather is weighty with woe'; snow 

 covers the earth, the wind whistles over the endless 

 plains, and for three years this winter lasts, till comes the 

 time for the great battle, and 'men tramp Hel's way.' 

 There is a hard struggle between life and death ; but 

 after that comes the reign of peace. The earth rises 

 from the sea again, and decks itself anew with verdure. 

 ' Torrents roar, eagles hover over them, watching for fish 

 among the rocks,' and then ' Valhalla,' fairer than the 

 sun, and long length of happy days. 



" Pettersen, who is cook this week, came in here this 

 evening, as usual, to get the bill of fare for next day. 

 When his business was done, he stood for a minute, and 

 then said that he had had such a strange dream last 

 night ; he had wanted to be taken as cook with a new 

 expedition, but Dr. Nansen wouldn't have him. 

 " ' And why not .^' 



* " Twilight of the gods." 



