[2] Dyna, an islet with a lighthouse in Christiania harbor.
[3] Cape Lindesnæs, the southernmost point of Norway.
[4] Beian (pron. By-an), a village and stopping-place for the coast-wise steamers in northern Norway, near Trondhjem.
[5] Tromsö, the chief city and bishop’s see of the bishopric of same name, the northernmost diocese in Norway.
Chapter VIII.
Drifting Through the Ice.—Christmas.—Daily Life on the Fram.—Bear-Hunt and Ice-Pressure.
From Sept. 26 the Fram lay frozen in in the drift-ice, and many a long day would pass ere she would be loose again. Nansen’s theory of a current over the North Pole would now be proved to be correct or the reverse.
It was a monotonous time that was approaching for the men on board. At first they drifted but very little northward, each succeeding day bringing but little alteration; but they kept a good heart, for they had not to suffer from lack of anything that could conduce to their comfort. They had a good ship, excellently equipped, and so passed the days as best they could,—now occupying themselves with seeing to the dogs or taking observations, etc.; while reading, playing cards, chess, halma, and making all kinds of implements, filled up the remainder of their time. Every now and then the monotony of their existence would undergo variation, when the ice-pressure set in. Then there was plenty of life and stir on board, and all hands would turn out to do battle with the foe.
