THE WOMBAT. 63 



idea, and explained it in every least detail, his seemed as reasonable 

 as any other scheme to reach the pole. The discussion which 

 followed was the most exciting one of the Congress, Sir Joseph 

 Hooker, Sir Erasmus Ommaney, General Strachey, Admiral 

 Markham, General Greeley, Colonel Watson, Dr. J Murray, Dr. 

 Neumayer, Mr. Silva White, and others of experience and theory 

 taking part, and there was much criticism. Andree gave close 

 attention to each speaker, making notes the while, and when Sir 

 Clement Markham called upon him to answer his critics, he took 

 up each objection, disposed of it, and crossed it off his pencilled 

 list, the silence of the audience while he spoke, and the applause 

 that followed his telling arguments and retorts, showing how closely 

 he held his listeners " If anything happens to my balloon, how 

 will I get back 1 " he asked. " Well, when something happened to 

 your ships how did you get back 1 " addressing his words and 

 pointing his finger directly at certain of his critics " I risk," he 

 said, "three lives in my foolhardy attempt, and you risked, how 

 many '? a shipload. " With a final stroke of his pencil he crushed 

 the notepaper in his hand, and slowly repeating the words of one 

 of his critics — " He hopes I may succeed in trying to raise the 

 money, and at least make the attempt ; " then pausing a second, 

 with a vigorous swing of his arm he added in exultant tones, 

 " Well I have got the money." 



The great hall of the Royal Colonial Institute, says a lady 

 writer, rang with the cheers that followed this dramatic climax, and 

 the storming of the Congress by the intrepid Swede, and whether 

 he returns shortly or spends a winter on the ice, as Nansen did, or 

 two winters, we may, I think, confidently expect to see Herr 

 Andree at the Geographical Congress at Berlin in 1899, as he was 

 positive in stating that he would be there 



The balloon has gone on its journey, and the dauntless three 

 may return in safety. In the meanwhile we should not place too 

 much reliance in reports which may reach us of messages from, 

 these navigators of the air, as they cannot be authenticated, unless 

 bearing Andree's signature and the date, latitude, &c. Nothing 

 remains but to wait patiently for really authentic news. Should 

 the news never come, or should it tell the sad story of disaster, 

 then the glory of the deed will have robbed the tragedy of some of 

 its horrors. Should the brave explorers return, then a new era of 

 enterprise will have been opened to the world. Andree and his 

 companions started on their perilous voyage in hope, burning with 

 enthusiasm ; they would not allow even a suggestion that their 

 undertaking might be a fruitless, and more, a fatal one. Let us 

 hope also ; let their brave spirits speak to us, and may we welcome 

 them back with honour ; but if they have already found a last 

 resting place in that remote and mysterious region, and have added 

 to the long roll of martyrs in the cause of science, then let us 

 reverently leave them in their unknown graves amid the everlasting 

 snows, where — 



" The stars above look down, silent and eternal." — (Abridged,) 



