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diff --git a/old/63603-0.txt b/old/63603-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index acab98f..0000000 --- a/old/63603-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6198 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Andrée and his Balloon, by -Henri Lachambre and Alexis Machuron - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Andrée and his Balloon - -Author: Henri Lachambre - Alexis Machuron - -Release Date: November 2, 2020 [EBook #63603] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANDRÉE AND HIS BALLOON *** - - - - -Produced by Peter Becker and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - - -ANDRÉE AND HIS BALLOON - - - - -[Illustration: THE DEPARTURE OF THE BALLOON. - -Copyright Archibald Constable & Co.] - - - - - ANDRÉE AND HIS - BALLOON - - By HENRI LACHAMBRE - and ALEXIS MACHURON - - WITH COLOURED FRONTISPIECE AND - FORTY-FOUR FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS - FROM - PHOTOGRAPHS - - Westminster - ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE & CO. - 1898 - - BUTLER & TANNER, - THE SELWOOD PRINTING WORKS, - FROME, AND LONDON. - - - - - TO A. S. ANDRÉE - - A FERVENT BELIEVER IN THE - AËRIAL CONQUEST OF THE NORTH - POLE WE DEDICATE THIS BOOK - - H. LACHAMBRE - A. MACHURON - - - - -LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS - - - PAGE - - THE DEPARTURE OF THE BALLOON, 11TH OF JULY, 1897 _Frontispiece, - in Colours_ - - SALOMON AUGUSTE ANDRÉE 9 - - VIEW OF THE LOWER PART OF THE BALLOON 21 - - VALVES FOR WORKING THE BALLOON 27 - - THE BALLOON IN THE 96 FEET GALLERY OF THE CHAMP DE MARS EXHIBITION 35 - - START OF THE “VIRGO” FROM GOTHENBURG, 7TH OF JUNE, 1896 41 - - STAFF-OFFICERS OF THE EXPEDITION 47 - - THE FIRST FLOATING ICEBERGS 55 - - DANE’S ISLAND AND THE PIKE HOUSE 63 - - DANSK-GATT 69 - - ARRIVAL OF A GENERATOR 77 - - ARRIVAL OF A GAS GENERATOR 83 - - THE “EXPRESS”, THE “ERLINE JARL”, THE “VIRGO”, DEPARTURE OF THE - “VICTORIA” 91 - - DANE’S ISLAND 97 - - SMEERENBURG GLACIERS 103 - - THE “VIRGO”. AMSTERDAM ISLAND 109 - - ARRIVAL OF THE CAR 115 - - AN EXCURSION TO MAGDALEINA BAY 123 - - SOLAR OBSERVATIONS AT MAGDALEINA BAY 129 - - THE “VIRGO” DECKED FOR THE 14TH OF JULY FÊTE 135 - - STRINDBERG 141 - - THE CUPOLA OF THE BALLOON (TOP OF THE SHED) 147 - - THE BALLOON IN THE SHED DURING ITS DEFLATION 155 - - THE SHED AND THE BALLOON CASE 161 - - THE SWEDISH GUNBOAT “SVENSKSUND” 169 - - A LAPLANDERS’ CAMP 175 - - A WHALE 181 - - DEPARTURE FOR A HUNTING EXPEDITION 189 - - ON THE ICEBERGS 195 - - DANE’S ISLAND SEEN BY THE MIDNIGHT SUN 203 - - SHIPS AMONG THE ICE 209 - - THE BALLOON CASE IN THE ICE 217 - - LANDING THE CAR 223 - - VIEW OF THE APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING HYDROGEN GAS FOR THE BALLOON 229 - - PLACING A GENERATOR 235 - - THE GAS APPARATUS 243 - - SKETCH OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HYDROGEN GAS-PRODUCING - APPARATUS 247 - - GETTING THE BALLOON CASE ASHORE 249 - - ON THE TOP OF THE BALLOON 257 - - THE INFLATED BALLOON IN ITS SHED, THE NORTHERN PART OF WHICH HAS - BEEN REMOVED IN ORDER TO FACILITATE ITS DEPARTURE 267 - - THE MEMBERS OF THE EXPEDITION 275 - - ON THE BRIDGE OF THE “SVENSKSUND,” MESSRS. FRAENKEL, ANDRÉE, - SVEDENBORG AND STRINDBERG 283 - - K. FRAENKEL 291 - - VIEW OF THE BALLOON TAKEN IMMEDIATELY AFTER ITS DEPARTURE 297 - - FACSIMILE OF ANDRÉE’S LAST MESSAGE 304 - - - - -[Illustration: ANDRÉE - -SALOMON AUGUSTE ANDRÉE.] - - - - -Introduction - - -On the afternoon of Sunday, the 11th of July, 1897, the balloon _Ornen_ -left the port of Virgo, Spitzbergen, carrying in its car Messrs. Andrée, -Strindberg, and Fraenkel, the bold explorers, starting for the conquest -of the North Pole. - -All the papers of the day were immediately filled with discussions in -various strains, pessimistic or favourable comments and prognostications, -articles full of hope or criticism,—each, in short, looking upon this -extraordinary expedition from its own point of view. - -The first part of this bold enterprise is accomplished, and now we are -confronted with the terrible question: Where are they? - -The comments took their usual course. However, towards the middle of -August we heard that one of the carrier pigeons belonging to Andrée’s -expedition had been killed, on the 22nd of July, by one of the seamen of -the fishing boat _Alken_, between the Spitzbergen North Cape and the -Seven Isles, in about 80° N. Lat. This pigeon carried a message, which -was confirmed, more than a month later, when the whaler _Alken_ returned -to Hammerfest; it was couched in the following terms:— - -“_13th July_, 12.30 _p.m._, 82.2° _N. L._, 15.5° _E. Long._ Good progress -towards the north. All goes well on board. This message is the third -brought by a pigeon.—ANDRÉE.” - -Andrée, therefore, appears to have despatched three pigeons in less than -three days, and the balloon seems to have covered, during this time, a -distance of scarcely 187½ miles—a fact which is accounted for by the calm -which reigned on the second day. - -No other trustworthy news has since come to hand. Much noise was made -about a telegram originating from Krasnoïarsk in Siberia, which announced -that a balloon, believed to be Andrée’s, had been sighted on the 14th of -September, for some minutes, in the province of Jēnisseisk. - -This message was rather vague. Supposing that the balloon remained in -the air for more than sixty days (which is still within the limits of -possibility), it ought to have crossed, in order to arrive at that point, -over 625 miles of inhabited land, without being perceived, which is -rather doubtful. On the other hand, Andrée would not travel such a long -way in regions where communications are comparatively easy and where -he would have been in perfect safety, without effecting a landing and -stopping on his journey. - -Knowing the temperament of these heroes, who start with high courage -towards the unknown, in order to try to lift the veil which still hides -those mysterious regions from mortal eyes, and after having read the -narrative of the wonderful voyage of Nansen and his companions, shall we -despair? - -Has not Andrée already been highly favoured by chance and accident? Has -he not already, in his career as an aeronaut, escaped from dangerous -situations in which many others, perhaps, would have perished? Let us -hope, then, that his lucky star will not forsake him, and that fortune, -which favours the brave, will bring back to us, victorious, the three -_savants_ who have a full claim to our unstinted admiration. - -I may add that the preparatory stages of the expedition were very -troublesome; obstacles of all kinds, bad weather, and, in particular, -contrary winds, made two attempts futile. Only on the third attempt were -the explorers able to leave _terra firma_ finally and float in space -towards this inaccessible pole, the search for which has already cost -science so many illustrious lives. - -In fact, a first expedition organized in June, 1896, went to Spitzbergen, -at which place a balloon and all the plant necessary for its inflation -were fitted up. But after a long wait for the south wind, which did not -come, the explorers were compelled to return to Europe, as the season was -too far advanced. - -Now, before narrating the preliminaries of the second expedition and -commencing the story of our voyage across the polar sea, it seems -expedient briefly to recapitulate the history of the Swedish expedition -to which we have had the honour to belong, and to give some details as to -the construction of the aerial ship, and the work accomplished last year -on Dane’s Island. - -An undertaking bristling with so many difficulties could not possibly be -carried through in an inhospitable country in a season which lasts barely -two months; and this fact the reader will be able to appreciate later on. - - H. L. - - - - -The Engineer Andrée - -BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES - - -Salomon-Auguste Andrée was born on the 18th of October, 1854, at Grenna, -a little town in the province of Smoiland. His father was a chemist. The -rather severe training received at the hands of their father, imbued -the children of the Andrée family at an early age with the spirit of -obedience and punctuality. Their father died some years ago, and their -mother, a distinguished lady, died in the spring of 1897. - -After finishing his educational course young Andrée entered the -technical school, an institution exclusively intended for civil -engineers,—artillery and army engineers’ officers having a separate -Higher School. He chose the mechanical engineering section of the -school, and left it an engineer. He thereupon worked for some time (as -is frequently the custom in Sweden) as a simple mechanic in a workshop, -sharing in every respect the life of an ordinary workman. Later on, he -travelled abroad for purposes of study. - -The knowledge he thus acquired, both theoretical and practical, procured -him the distinction of being appointed, at the early age of twenty-six, -assistant professor of pure and applied physical science at the technical -school. - -At the age of twenty-eight, in 1892, he took part in a Swedish -meteorological expedition to Spitzbergen. He wintered there until the -next year, directing the experiments and observations on atmospheric -electricity. - -In 1884, Andrée was appointed chief engineer to the Patent Office,—being -a newly created post,—and from 1886 to 1889 he occupied, at the same -time, a professor’s chair at the technical school of Stockholm. - -However, his position at the Patent Office, being a post of the highest -importance, claimed all his time and energy, and Andrée found himself -obliged to resign the professorship. - -But he could not give up the idea of scientific aerostation, a problem -which had always haunted his mind since his early youth. - -The Swedish Academy of Science, which counts among its members famous men -like A. Nordensjold, G. Retzius, G. Mittaz-Leffler, the mathematician, -H. Hildebran and O. Montelius, the antiquarians, and others known and -esteemed by the learned world, turned their attention to Andrée’s -projects, and in 1892 he received from the Academy and the “L. J. Hjerta -Memorial Foundation,” a subvention for the purpose of undertaking -scientific aerial navigation—an honour which was unprecedented in Sweden. - -From that time Andrée devoted himself to aerial navigation, and made his -first ascent at Stockholm in the summer of 1893. - -He has since made a number of ascents for scientific purposes, some of -which were of a most perilous nature—one resulting in a disaster in the -Baltic. On another occasion he was carried from Gothenburg over the -Baltic, after having traversed the whole of Sweden. The reefs round the -Isle of Goëland presented the greatest difficulties to his landing. This -last attempt nearly cost Andrée his life; but these “little accidents” -were not calculated to discourage a man of his temperament. - -He made several experiments at steering by means of a guide-rope and a -sail, and came to the conclusion that it would be possible to direct the -course of the balloon even while keeping it at a low altitude. - -Thereupon, early in 1895, Andrée presented to the Academy of Sciences a -well matured project for exploring the regions of the North Pole with the -aid of a balloon; the start was to be made from Spitzbergen, where the -inflation of the balloon was to be effected. The estimated cost amounted -to about £7,177. - -A National subscription was opened, which was completed in a few days by -four generous donors. - -Mr. A. Nobel, of lamented memory, subscribed £3,588. - -The King of Sweden, wishing to show the interest taken by him in the -expedition, gave £1,656. - -Baron Dickson, well known for his liberality, also gave £1,656. - -The sum was completed by Mr. R. Lamm and some other donors. - -Mr. R. Lamm, moreover, undertook to supply all the mechanical part of the -various apparatus. - -Having once settled the financial aspect of the question, Andrée made -several journeys all over Europe, in order to obtain personal interviews -with foreign scientific celebrities and gain them over to his views -concerning this bold enterprise. He visited, one by one, the aeronautical -establishments, procuring at the same time samples of the tissues -employed, and obtaining the opinions of various constructors. - -Thereupon, on his return to Stockholm, he carefully tested the samples -which he had brought with him; he felt interested in the English and -German products, but gave preference to the French industry. Finally -his choice fell on Chinese Pongee silk, cemented together in double, -threefold, and fourfold layers, and varnished, this tissue having -been advocated and experimented with for several years past by M. H. -Lachambre, to whom Andrée entrusted the construction of the balloon on -condition that M. Lachambre should follow the expedition to Spitzbergen, -where the benefit of his experience would be at Andrée’s service. - - - - -The Aerial Vessel - -DESCRIPTION OF THE BALLOON FOR ANDRÉE’S POLAR EXPEDITION, AND THE -APPLIANCES CONSTRUCTED AT THE AEROSTATIC WORKSHOPS OF VAUGIRARD. - - -After studying the question for a long time, Andrée finally decided to -give his balloon the cubical contents of 158,924 feet, and the shape of a -sphere terminating in a slightly conical appendage. - -This sphere, fitted with two lateral regulating valves, one lower -automatic valve, and a “rending flap,” measures 22 yards in diameter, by -1,431 yards surface; it is enclosed in a net of hemp cord, terminating in -systems of “crow feet,” and suspending ropes attached to the car by means -of a “load ring.” - -The upper part of the balloon is protected against rain and snow by a -varnished silk cover, the apex of which is fixed to the upper pole of -the envelope, and the lower margin to the meshes of the net. - -THE ENVELOPE.—In making up the envelope, 600 pieces of best quality -Pongee silk, each from 18 to 19 yards long by about 18 inches wide, were -used. From each of these a piece was cut off which was tried in both -directions—that of the chain and that of the weft; then the pieces were -classified according to their strength, in order to be subjected to the -operation of cementing or joining together. - -All these pieces, after being cemented together, were tried again before -being used. The trials were made by means of a Perreaux dynamometer, -with strips about 2 inches wide by 4 inches long, under the control of -Messrs. P. de Nordenfeld and Noël, engineers of the Nordenfeld Company, -to whom Andrée had entrusted the task of testing the materials used in -the construction of his balloon. - -[Illustration: VIEW OF THE LOWER PART OF THE BALLOON.] - -The tests gave the following results:—For double tissue, the breaking -strains varied from 5,291 lbs. to 7,936 lbs. per yard, for threefold -tissue from 6,854 to 12,125, and for fourfold tissue, made up of the -best single pieces found, from 13,227 to 15,873 lbs. per yard. - -The minimum resistance demanded by Andrée was fixed at 2,204 lbs. per -yard and per single thickness of Pongee. This minimum was therefore -greatly exceeded. - -The cemented pieces were classified according to their strength, for -distribution over the surface of the balloon as the strain demanded. - -The upper part of the envelope is a disc 19 feet 8 inches in diameter, -formed by twenty-four widths of fourfold silk. The adjoining part, -consisting of threefold silk up to 13 feet 1 inch below the equator of -the sphere, is composed of forty-one zones made up of forty-eight widths -each. - -The remainder of the balloon, down to the lower parallel, having a -diameter of 23 feet, is of double material, being made up of twenty-two -zones of forty-eight widths; and finally the lower part, including -the appendage, is of threefold silk, and consists of five zones of -forty-eight widths, and three zones of twenty-four widths each. - -The portions made up of threefold and double Pongee are joined together -by an intermediate zone in which the various widths of material are -alternately made up, half of threefold and half of double tissue. - -In each zone the various widths, or pieces of material, are identical in -shape; twenty-seven different templates had to be designed in order to -determine the exact shape of the various pieces or widths of material, -the total number of which is 3,360. The cutting out of these pieces -was effected with the aid of a cutting blade guided by a steel rule, -following the outlines of a template. At first those belonging to one and -the same zone were joined together, and the zones were then joined so -that the various pieces or widths overlapped each other in such a manner -as to give the balloon the aspect of a structure of bricks or freestone. - -The cemented joints of the various pieces are ½ inch wide; they are then -sewn by a machine, with three seams made with fine silk in the double or -threefold material, and four rows of stitches in the fourfold material. - -These joints or seams are then covered, outside and inside, with a -strip of single silk 1⅕ inches wide, cemented on with a special varnish -recently discovered by M. Lachambre. - -The strips cemented by this new process have the double advantage -of rendering the seams impermeable and restoring to the joints the -resistance of which the stitching deprives them. - -The varnish used for this cementing meets all requirements; it preserves -the natural suppleness of the material, is unaffected by the balloon -varnish, which has linseed oil for its basis, and is proof against water -and changes of temperature. - -The tests made with the joints thus constituted, proved that their -resistance was greater than that of the adjoining parts, and Andrée, -who only desires an equal strength throughout, naturally was very well -satisfied with this result. - -The seams are 4,811 yards long, with three or four rows of stitching, -representing a line of single stitching equal to a length of 15,310 -yards, and the total length of the cemented strips is nearly 9,842 yards. - -The two hemispheres of the balloon were first formed; their weight was -2,116 lbs., and before proceeding to the last equatorial closing seam, -they were given three coats of Arnoul’s varnish (the best balloon -varnish hitherto tried); a fourth coat being given after the two halves -had been joined together, on the premises of the “Palais du Champ de -Mars,” remaining from the 1889 Exhibition. - -NET.—The net of the polar balloon is composed of 384 hemp cords, ⅙ inch -thick by 211 feet 7 inches long, each having a breaking strain of not -less than 873 lbs. (in the tests made the minimum result was 925 lbs., -while the maximum was 1,190 lbs.). - -Each cord is jointless; its two ends are fixed, at the upper pole, to a -cordage ring or crown measuring 26 inches in diameter and 2⅓ inches in -thickness. There are no knots in this net, the cords being interwoven at -their crossing points, one being passed through the other; it was in this -way that the “Henri Giffard” captive balloon was finished in 1878. - -The crossing points are strengthened by ligatures of fine twine. - -[Illustration: VALVES FOR WORKING THE BALLOON.] - -The circumference of the net, all the way up, consists of 192 meshes, -the dimensions of which vary according to the area of the zone they are -to cover. These meshes, the number of which is no less than 19,000, -represent a length of twine amounting to nearly 16,404 yards. - -The lower part of the net is formed by a system of three zones of -crowfeet or cringles, each zone reducing, by one-half, the number of -meshes composing the next upper zone. - -The first row of crowfeet is mounted on thimbles of nickeled brass, the -second and the third on wooden pulley-blocks, having sheaves of lignum -vitæ; and forty-eight suspending cords, each fitted at its end with an -eye, complete the net and form points for tying it to the retaining ring -by means of toggles. These suspending cords have a diameter of ⁷⁄₁₀ inch, -and a bearing-strain of no less than 6,613 lbs. - -The net thus constituted weighed 776 lbs. In order to preserve the -cordage from moisture it was impregnated with vaseline, except in the -upper part, which was covered with a projecting cover of varnished silk; -after this operation the weight of the net was 974 lbs. - -Eight detachable equatorial cringles were fixed to the equator of the -net. They were to serve for holding up the balloon, and preventing it -from oscillating, in the shed which was to shelter it at Spitzbergen, -while awaiting a favourable wind for the departure of the expedition. - -PROTECTING COVER.—A spherical _calotte_ of single silk, varnished with -four coats and vaselined, and having an area of 1,560 square feet, covers -the upper part of the balloon. It is finished in the same way as the -balloon, being composed of overlapping widths to the number of 720. - -The seams, having a width of ¼ inch, are hooked together, and sewn -with two rows of stitching with silk thread. They are not covered with -cemented strips. Their total length is 656 yards. - -The vertex of the protecting cover, of conical shape, is of double silk. -It rests on a small wooden structure, likewise of conical shape, the base -of which, placed on the material at the upper pole of the balloon, is -surrounded and held in place by the crown of the net. - -The lower zone, terminating the protecting cover, is of double silk. Its -extreme edge is put round a hemp bolt-rope, ³⁄₁₀ inch in diameter, which -is sewn into the material; ninety-six eyes made above this bolt-rope are -intended to receive thongs for fixing the protecting cover to the meshes -of the net. - -This protecting cover weighs 88 lbs. Its object is to protect the top of -the balloon against rain, and more especially to prevent incrustation -with snow between the meshes of the net. - -VALVES.—The balloon has no valve at the top, because its action would -probably be affected by snow; but it is provided with two manipulating -valves, of equal dimensions, one being placed at the equator, and the -other one metre above the equator. These are at 150 degrees angular -distance from each other. - -These valves, constructed on a system of Andrée’s, measure 9⅘ inches in -external diameter. Each is formed by a disc of aluminium bronze, 9 inches -in diameter, and under normal conditions rests on a circular piece of -walnut wood, but can be withdrawn therefrom by moving it along a screw -which occupies the centre. This movement is effected from the car of -the balloon by means of two cords for each valve, passing through the -interior of the balloon and issuing from it near the appendage through -four tubes, arranged in pairs. - -Gas-tightness is obtained by a circular rubber band, against which the -outer margin of the valve disc rests. The orifice for the escape of -gas measures 7⅘ inches in diameter. In order to fix the valves to the -balloon, two openings, 7⅘ inches in diameter, are made in the material. -The margin around these openings is strengthened by collars, 19⅖ inches -in diameter, of threefold material, cemented and sewn on; the seat of -each valve is applied internally to the material of the balloon, the -margin of which is caught between two rubber bands, and thereupon pressed -against the seat by an external wooden hoop and bolts. - -These valves do not present any external projection against which the -cord of the net might catch. - -The automatic valve closing the appendage was suggested to Andrée by M. -Lachambre, and was adopted. It measures 39 inches in external diameter, -with a discharge orifice 34 inches in diameter. The valve disc, of -threefold Pongee silk, is 35⅘ inches in diameter. It is provided with two -glazed windows, in order to enable the aeronauts to inspect the interior -of the balloon. This disc, which is slightly conical, is fitted upon -a walnut-wood ring, which acts as a seat, in which it is held by the -traction of six spiral springs of steel wire, fastened on one side to the -end of the wooden spokes of the valve, and on the other side to the top -of a small frame fixed on the seat. The frame, mounted on the wooden ring -or crown, is formed by twelve nickeled steel tubes. - -The valve is guided in its course by a central steel tube, sliding in -another tube, which serves as an axis for the frame. A small cotter -limits its action, the length of which is equal to one-half of the -radius of the discharge orifice. The joint is rendered gas-tight at the -periphery of the valve by means of a brass blade resting on a rubber band -stretched in a groove of the seat. - -The valve commences to open under the action of an internal pressure -corresponding to ³⁄₁₀ inch water column. In order to fix it to the -balloon, it is placed in the interior of the appendage, the margin of -which, held between two rubber bands, is kept tight against the seat by -an external belt or ring of brass, fastened by bolts. - -“RENDING FLAP.”—The rending flap is 4½ yards high, and has a surface -of 4⁷⁄₁₀ square yards. It is formed of threefold Pongee silk, and is -rectangular in shape, terminating in a curvilinear triangle, the point -of which is turned upwards. Its vertical axis is at an angular distance -of 105 degrees from each of the two manipulating valves; the lower base, -which is 35⅖ inches wide, reaches down to 19⅗ inches above the equator. -The seams joining the material of the “rending flap” to that of the -balloon are similar to the seams of the various widths, and are likewise -covered with cemented strips. - -In the interior of the balloon the upper extremity of the “rending flap” -is of fourfold silk; its edge is put round a stick of hard wood, to which -a rope for pulling is fixed, by means of which the rent is made. This -rope descends to the car after having passed through the lower part of -the envelope, near the appendage, in a tube. - -In order to make the rent with ease, which will require an effort equal -to a traction of about 220 or 250 pounds, Andrée intends to use a small -grapnel, which he will attach to the end of this rope and throw to the -ground at the proper moment. - -[Illustration: THE BALLOON IN THE 96 FEET GALLERY OF THE CHAMP DE MARS -EXHIBITION.] - -Thereupon the balloon will be emptied very rapidly, and all dragging -along the ground will be avoided, however violent the wind may be. - -Of course Andrée will not make use of the “rending flap” until he is -travelling over hospitable regions and wishes to terminate his aerial -voyage and alight definitely. - -BANDS FOR PROTECTION AGAINST WATER.— SUNDRY DETAILS.—Above the appendage, -at the parallels measuring 16 feet 4 inches and 22 feet 11 inches -respectively in diameter, there are fixed, by one of their edges, two -vertical circular bands nearly 4 inches high. - -These bands are of single silk; their purpose is to form gutters for -carrying off any water which might run down the material of the balloon, -and thus protect the car in which the observers are stationed from rain. -In the interior of the appendage there is another band, differently -placed, forming a circular trough, intended to receive any water that -might result from a strong condensation of the gases contained in the -balloon, and thus prevent any accumulation of such water over the -automatic valve. Between the external band, of 16 feet 4 inches in -diameter, and the appendage, and facing the tube through which the -rending cord passes, the inflating nozzle, which is 19 feet 8 inches -long, is fixed. - -The two cords which control each of the manipulating valves are worked -by pulling: one, being that which opens the valve, is painted blue; the -other, which closes it, retains the natural colour of the hemp. - -The cord acting upon the rending flap is coloured red. - -Along a meridian traced on the envelope coloured marks are made, with -figures indicating every 546 yards of cubic contents of the segment above -each mark. This will admit of the progress of inflation at Spitzbergen -being rapidly ascertained. - -On two other meridians, suitably situated, are shown the positions for -the straps to support the sails with which the polar balloon is to be -provided. - -THE CAR.—In the construction of the car, the use of iron or steel was -prohibited, so as to avoid interfering with the action of the magnetic -instruments. Its form is cylindrical, measuring two metres in diameter, -from centre to centre of its sides, which are of cane basket-work -mounted on a framework of chestnut-wood; eight handles of wicker-work are -attached to the cylindrical part, at a convenient height, to facilitate -the transport. - -The bottom is strengthened by wooden crossbeams placed externally and -fastened to the basket-work by bolts and brass plates put on the inside. - -The cylindrical part is truncated on one side, having a plane surface -which is to form part of an inclined plane intersecting the lower floor -of the car, and extending from this floor to midway up the cylinder, the -length of the chord formed by the plane intersecting the base being 51 -inches. - -When the balloon touches the ground, rolling of the car will be avoided -by this flat surface, which will rest and drag on the ground. Internally, -the upper margin of the side is fitted all round with about 100 cords -terminating in buckles or eyes. To these cords, which are passed through -the basket-work, instruments and various objects are to be attached. The -roof of the car is a disc or cover, likewise of basket-work, slightly -convex in order to prevent any accumulation of water. The margin of the -periphery of this cover forms a cavity into which the margin of the car -is inserted, thus preserving its peculiar shape. Cross-pieces of wood -fixed inside the cover or roof impart to it the necessary rigidity to -support the observers; entrance to the car and exit therefrom is effected -by means of a trap-door which moves on hinges. - -Above the flattened part, the cylindrical side of the car is fitted -with two square windows with glass panes of 5¾ inches side; the bottom -of the car has two square openings of 7⅘ inches side, closed by wooden -trap-doors. - -The car is covered with tarpaulin having openings corresponding to those -in the basket-work. - -The tarpaulin of the roof forms a vertical rim 3⁹⁄₁₀ inches in width, -perforated with holes for draining off rain-water. The car is suspended -by six hemp ropes 1¹⁄₁₀ inch thick. Their respective strength is from -17,636 lbs. to 19,841 lbs. They are interwoven with the basket-work, and -joined together at the bottom of the car by a hexagon of rope. - -[Illustration: START OF THE VIRGO FROM GOTHENBURG, 7TH OF JUNE, 1896.] - -Above the roof they are joined to each other by five horizontal ropes -placed at equal distances and forming a kind of balustrade 3 feet 3 -inches high, which was to be covered in later on either with tarpaulin or -some other enclosing material. - -The thickness of these horizontal ropes is ⅕ inch, except the uppermost -rope, which is ³⁄₁₀ inch thick. - -About 6 feet 6 inches above the roof, the hexagon formed by the six ropes -is drawn together by a hexagon of rope-work measuring 3 feet 3 inches -inside diameter. - -The upper end of the suspending ropes terminates in an eye or loop -joining it to the ropes of the load ring. - -On the circumference of the upper edge of the car six brass balls are -fastened, at equal distances from each other, forming the lower part of a -system of ball links which are to carry a structure intended to support -the scientific instruments. This structure was made at Stockholm under -the supervision of Andrée. - -The fitting up and equipment of the car was also carried out under his -supervision. - -The aeronauts will generally be on the flooring of the roof, for the -purpose of observations. The interior of the car forms their sleeping -apartment, where they will each rest in turn. - -MARKS OF THE EXPEDITION.—All the articles comprising the aerostatic -equipment are marked with the words “ANDRÉE’S POLAR EXPEDITION 1896,” -which are branded upon wooden articles, engraved on metal articles, and -painted with a durable paint on the protecting cover, the envelope, the -tarpaulin of the car, and the ballast bags. - -Some ropes of the net and the suspending rope are fitted with small -plates strongly fixed to them, on which the above mark is engraved. - -The articles not affording sufficient space for the whole mark bear the -abridged mark “AÉE’S EXP 1896.” - -The following articles were made at Stockholm; viz., the “load -ring” connecting the balloon with the car, the provision basket, -the guide-ropes, sails, etc., as well as the plant for making pure -hydrogen gas, a description of which will be found later on. Only the -gas conducting pipes, which are of silk, and the ballast bags, were -manufactured at Paris, being supplied from the Vaugirard factory. - -EXHIBITION OF THE EQUIPMENT AND PLANT AT THE CHAMP DE MARS (Old Buildings -of the 1889 Exhibition).—The order for the articles described above -was given by Andrée to M. H. Lachambre at the end of December, 1895, -and delivery was to be effected between the 15th and 20th of May, -1896, failing which the contractor made himself liable to an enormous -progressive fine, in proportion to the number of days of delay, and -if delivery was not made before the 3rd of June the order could be -cancelled. But the work was executed within the stipulated time, and -towards the end of April the whole plant was conveyed to the Champ de -Mars, into the 30 m. gallery, in order to be examined there by the -Commission. - -According to a clause of the agreement the envelope was to be inflated -with air, and before the last varnishing to be submitted to an internal -pressure equal to 3 inches water-column. - -This trial took place on the 3rd of May, in the presence of Messrs. -de Nordenfeld, engineer of the Nordenfeld Company, Gaston Tissandier, -Colonel Renard and Commander Renard, managers of the Central -Establishment of Military Aerostation of Chalais-Meudon. The openings -of the balloon were provisionally closed; the valve in the appendage was -replaced by a wooden hoop covered by a disc of material containing a -glazed window, 7⅘ inches in diameter, thus permitting inspection of the -interior of the balloon. The latter was inflated by means of a ventilator -supplying about 70,633 cubic feet of air per hour. - -Andrée’s experts, who had followed up the manufacture step by step, -then examined minutely all the parts, and declared the material to be -faultless, and quite in accordance with the desires expressed by Andrée. - -After this examination, which showed that the envelope inflated with air -did not lose its contents to any appreciable extent, the balloon was -emptied, and was then given the last coat of varnish. This having been -done, it was again inflated for the purpose of drying. - -The net suspended by the crown, in the centre of the central dome, -and with the suspending ropes attached to the balustrade of the first -gallery, presented the appearance of a vast tent, the summit of which was -131 to 164 feet above the ground. - -[Illustration: STAFF-OFFICERS OF THE EXPEDITION.] - -The car, the valves, and in short all the articles made at Paris were -exhibited at the Champ de Mars. A little balloon of 1,148 feet, fully -equipped, and inflated with air, suspended by the side of the polar -balloon, served for comparison. This exhibition, which was not arranged -with a view to profit, was thrown open to the public from the 10th to the -14th of May. - -The 10th of May was reserved for special guests, and M. Félix Faure, -President of the French Republic, was the first visitor. He took much -interest in the various parts of the balloon, which he examined at -length, and in the details of its construction. He expressed his best -wishes for the success of this interesting expedition. - -There were present at the same time as the President, M. de Nordenfeld, -Swedish engineer, M. Gaston Tissandier, Colonel Renard, and Commander -Renard, who had also watched the work in its various stages, and had -co-operated therein to a certain extent. - -The Swedish colony was represented by M. Dué, minister plenipotentiary, -and Gustav Nordling, vice-consul. - -Among the other guests were Messrs. Poubelle, Prefect de la Seine, -Admiral Sallandrouze de Larmornaix, General Mathieu, M. Decauville, -senator, M. Coulet, solicitor to the Swedish Legation, etc. - -During the next four days over 30,000 persons came to see the _North -Pole_ balloon, and expressed their good wishes for the success of the -three bold Swedish explorers whose courage is universally admired. - - A. M. - - - - -FIRST PART - -_TWO MONTHS AT SPITZBERGEN_ - - - - -I - -The Departure - - -I left Paris on the night of the 2nd of June, 1896, to accompany Andrée -and his companions to Spitzbergen, as had been arranged. My mind was much -taken up with speculations as to the ultimate fate of the expedition, and -the responsibility I had undertaken weighed rather heavily upon me. - -Without stopping at the various stages of my journey, Cologne, Hamburg, -and Copenhagen, though all of them very interesting towns, I arrived -at Gothenburg, where I was received by Captain Andrée, brother of the -explorer; and although much fatigued by forty hours’ railway and boat -travelling, my first visit was to the good ship _Virgo_, which was to be -my home for several months, and convey me towards the northern regions. - -Andrée, who left nothing to chance, had chosen his vessel well, and his -brother superintended her loading and equipment. - -When I arrived work was proceeding with feverish activity, and it is -almost impossible to conceive the quantity of goods which were stowed -away in this small vessel of 300 tons. I was present at the embarkation -of the barrows of sulphuric acid which had been brought from England. - -We have a select crew, composed almost entirely of engineering students -from the technical school of Stockholm, and officers who have taken -berths as ordinary sailors in order to follow the expedition; one can -see that there will be no more lack of brave and generous hearts than of -scientific heads. - -On the morning of the 5th of June, the three explorers arrived from -Stockholm. At night a grand fête brought us together at Baron Dickson’s, -one of the generous promoters of the enterprise. - -_Saturday evening, 6th of June._—Popular fête at Lorensburg Park; -numerous speeches and enthusiastic toasts; reading of telegrams and -kind wishes for the success of the expedition. The tables are adorned -with magnificent bouquets of natural flowers enclosed in pyramids of -ice. The effect is most picturesque, and this is certainly an idea -which has never yet suggested itself, as far as I know, to the minds of -the managers of our great culinary establishments; I now give them the -benefit thereof. What can be more attractive than the picture of flowers -and chandelier-lights reflected in these miniature icebergs? - -_Sunday, June 7th._—I arrived at the port at 8 a.m. The _Virgo_ has been -dressed in her gala bunting; her masts are resplendent with many-hued -streamers. At the stern proudly floats the splendid silk flag presented -by the ladies of Gothenburg. The deck is adorned with flowers and -ribbons; I am touched at the sight of my national colours. - -All the vessels in port are dressed with bunting, and crammed with -spectators. An army of photographers, who all have their cameras pointed -at the _Virgo_, are preparing to immortalize the vessel as she now -appears. - -The launches and all the boats, large and small, are making the _Virgo_ -their rendezvous. The rest of the population is on the quays and the -neighbouring buildings. - -M. Vieillard, a friend, who came to accompany me, left me at nine -o’clock; we arranged to meet at Spitzbergen. - -I saluted Baron Dickson, his daughter and his niece, who were on the -quay. His son came to the _Virgo_ to shake hands, and wish me a good -voyage. - -The three explorers also arrived with their friends crowding round them. -The partings were very touching, and the emotion, in which all present -shared, reached its height when precisely at ten o’clock the signal for -starting was sounded. - -The _Virgo_ is slowly moving. - -The enthusiasm becomes indescribable. An immense hurrah, four times -repeated, is volleyed from every panting breast. Handkerchiefs and hats -are waved frantically, the cheers burst forth with redoubled vigour. -Andrée, Ekholm, and Strindberg, appear at the bulwarks with their -bouquets and their ribbons: they signal their adieux and acknowledge -ours. - -[Illustration: THE FIRST FLOATING ICEBERGS.] - -Then we, too, have our share in this grand and most impressive -manifestation. - -The flag of the _Virgo_ dips by way of salute, and then rises again, and -at this moment the _cortége_ of vessels and boats forms up around our -vessel, which has progressed a little towards the open sea. - -Something like a hundred boats follow in our wake. On several of them -bands are playing, and a regular procession commences. Those who have no -boats follow along the quays; it is a veritable tide of human beings. - -A few inevitable collisions occurred between some of the impetuous small -craft, but most happily no serious accident is to be regretted. - -The sun is shining gloriously; the sky, too, has put on its festive garb, -and seems desirous of encouraging the bold explorers leaving for the -conquest of the North Pole. - -We are now out in the open sea. - -At one o’clock we are assembled on the quarter-deck, and the -introductions commence:— - -Herr Andrée, former pupil of the higher technical school of Stockholm, -Director of the Patent Office, and commander of the expedition; - -Herr Ekholm, doctor of natural philosophy, chief of the Meteorological -Office of Stockholm; - -Herr Strindberg, former student of Upsala University, second master at -the Free University of Stockholm; - -Herr Svante Arrhénius, hydrographer, chief of the Stockholm University, -professor of natural philosophy; - -Herr Grumberg, naturalist, master at the Stockholm University, higher -school; - -Dr. Carl Ekelund, physician to the expedition; - -Captain Hugo Zachau, commander of the _Virgo_, which ordinarily plies -between Gothenburg and Hull. - -Nor must we forget the stewardess Charlotte, a complaisant Swede, wearing -a coquettish little white toque, of the comic-opera style, trimmed with a -pretty ribbon bearing the badge of the expedition. This charming person -made me three pretty curtsies, and an acquaintance was soon formed -between us. It is she who will wait on us at table. She seems much at -her ease on board the _Virgo_, and she has better sea-legs than I have. -She has made a napkin ring with ribbons for each of us; mine bears the -French colours. She is, moreover, very amusing. There is also the cook, -who excels in the preparation of _omelettes aux anchois_—but I must not -anticipate. - -After the introductions we taste the brandy and whisky; we drink toasts -for the success of the polar expedition; then several speeches are made. -At three o’clock we assemble for dinner in the dining saloon. The captain -does the honours at the table; he is a jolly amphitryon, and robust both -physically and morally. The meal passed off very gaily. - -I was seated near Strindberg and Professor Arrhénius, with whom I can -speak in my own language, and also learn a few words of Swedish. This, -in fact, is simply by way of retaliation, as I have been appointed -“professor of the French language” by acclamation. - -We take our coffee on deck, smoking delicious Havannahs presented to the -expedition. Gently cradled by the waves, I abandon myself to revery. How -many things I have seen since my departure, and how far away from home I -am already! Nevertheless, I have only reached the first stage, and much -excitement is still in store for me. - -I have taken possession of my cabin, which adjoins the kitchen and dining -saloon, and am settling down there as comfortably as possible, but not -without difficulty, as the place allotted to me is very small. - -At eight o’clock the dinner bell once more unites us round the table, and -the evening is spent in frankest cordiality. The voyage commences very -promisingly. - - - - -II - -Out at Sea - - -_June 8th, 1896, 10.30._—We have been under way for twenty-four hours; we -are in sight of Norway, off the Forsund, at a distance of nine miles from -the coast, but the mist prevents us from seeing very far. The fir-clad -mountains are vaguely outlined to our right, and the _Virgo_ is heading -due north-west. There is nothing for us to do but take life as it comes. -I commence my diary in my cabin. The sea, though a little rough, has not -yet troubled me. Andrée alone has already paid his tribute. - -_Tuesday, June 9th, Coasts of Norway._—Sea rough, general discomfort, -moral prostration; I am unable to write. The _Virgo_ rolls heavily. At -the present moment, 6 p.m., it is as light as at midday. - -_Wednesday, June 10th, 6.30._—The temperature has gone down considerably; -we have crossed the polar circle. A steamer has kept company with us -this morning at a distance of 7½ miles on our port side. Sea rough. - -_Thursday, June 11th, 10 a.m._—In sight of the Loffoden Islands; sky -overcast; some few rays of the sun; sea smoother; the vessel still rolls. - -_Friday, June 12th, 9.30._—At last we are in the straits which lead to -Tromsö. I was so ill to-night that I should have thrown myself into the -sea had I forgotten, for one moment, my duty and my family. - -[Illustration: DANES ISLAND AND THE PIKE HOUSE.] - -At 11 p.m. I sent for the doctor; it seemed to me that I was going to -die all alone in my narrow cabin. He ordered me champagne and sleep. -Charlotte, the stewardess, brought me some oranges, and took off my -boots, which I had not had the courage to take off for four days. Oh, -Charlotte, my fair Scandinavian maid, with your clear eyes, your engaging -smile, your gay face, and your lithe but robust physique, how you must -have pitied “the French gentleman,” as they called me, who but the other -day was so nimble, so sure of himself to all appearance, and who has -suddenly become more inert and helpless than an old cap that has been -cast away by the skipper! - -And in spite of the horrible tortures I suffered, I was vaguely conscious -of the strange humour of the situation of having my boots removed by -dainty female hands better adapted for millinery than for such a rough -task. - -Have you ever been sea-sick? If you have, you will understand me. How -well I then understood what is narrated of Cicero, who, having taken -refuge on board a vessel in order to escape the assassin sent out for him -by Marc-Antony, preferred returning to Gaeta, to face the death which he -feared, to enduring any longer the tortures of sea-sickness. - -The bay bristles with high granite mountains with snow-capped summits. -The _Virgo_ makes signals for a pilot, who is a long time coming; she -stops from five o’clock to nine awaiting him, and strange to say, when -the noise of the engine ceases we have a feeling of sadness. It is as if -something was wanting from our lives. - -At last, at half-past nine the much-wished-for pilot arrives, and the -_Virgo_ resumes her route towards Tromsö, the promised land. - -We are now floating on a lake whose banks are clad with verdure. I behold -with some amount of pleasure the objects surrounding me. - -What a contrast! On the right a group of well-built, brick pilots’ -houses, on the mountain slope, facing the sea. Heavy cumuli cover the -summits of the rocks; above, the sky is of a pure blue, and the bright -sun pours floods of golden light over the landscape. - -On the left there is a church standing all alone, the rendezvous of the -fishermen who inhabit the coast in summer. - -The sailors are getting ready the boat which is to set us ashore, as -there is no quay at Tromsö, and the _Virgo_ will remain at anchor in the -roads. - -The bay is getting narrower and villages succeed each other, with -telegraph lines on both banks. Numerous Norwegian fishing boats are -ploughing the sea. The air is pure and dry. - -The _Virgo_ glides majestically over the waves like a large bird. The -landscape becomes animated and really fairy-like. - -At eleven o’clock we sight Tromsö with its steeple, its wooden houses -and villas rising in tiers one above the other on the slope of a very -fertile mountain. The pilot is still steering the _Virgo_. Objects appear -larger and more distinct; there is the harbour, with its vessels at -anchor. - -At ten minutes past one we arrive opposite Tromsö. We drop anchor at -about five furlongs from the shore. As I have already mentioned, there is -no landing stage. We are already surrounded by several boats. There is M. -Aagaard, the consul, coming to welcome us. Then the telegraph messenger -appears, to hand Andrée a package of telegrams. Lastly there are the -friends of the explorers, and the members of the Geological Commission, -who are going to travel with us as far as the Ice-Fjord. - -We take a seat in a boat which puts us ashore in a few minutes. - -_June 14th._—We left Tromsö at 1 a.m. in splendid weather. The farewells -of the inhabitants, who came flocking in crowds to cheer us, were very -touching, and the _Virgo_ resumed her course towards the north. - -The sun was shining so brilliantly, as I have said, that I could -scarcely realize whether it was midday or midnight. - -Although less solemn than at Gothenburg, our departure was very -imposing. The whole town was assembled on the quays, and all the boats -of the port were formed in line to do us homage. There were tourists in -steam-launches and fishing boats. In short, the whole populace of Tromsö -had made a point of being there to wish us God-speed. - -In the boats there were many well-dressed ladies; in one boat, -in particular, there were five females frantically waving their -handkerchiefs to the sailors. - -Then Tromsö receded into the background, and will soon be nothing to us -but a memory, a vision looked back to with regret. - -Sunday passed without any incident. On Monday night we fell in with the -first icebergs, and progress became more difficult. - -[Illustration: DANSK-GATT.] - -_June 16th, noon._—Since the morning we have been running along the -coast of Spitzbergen, my future home, the place of my temporary exile. -The progress of the boat is slow and perilous, in the midst of floating -ice-blocks, which threaten to crush us at every moment. It requires all -the experience of the captain and all the vigilance of the man at the -wheel to avoid a catastrophe. - -The ice pilot is on the look-out in the rigging, and indicates by signal -the open channels. - -We have seen a large number of birds, whales throwing up an immense -stream of water, seals, etc. Three of these animals were disporting -themselves on an ice-floe within gunshot. They were at once saluted by a -discharge of guns, which did not hit them. - -A variety of birds, very common in these regions, among them the auk, -or fulmar (a kind of wild duck), which dives immediately it is pursued. -This is, moreover, the way in which these birds seek their food, like all -birds of the polar regions, for they live on fish. The steward of the -vessel has just killed two with one shot. These birds have a very clumsy -flight, their tail is very short, and it is only with the aid of their -web feet that they steer themselves. - -Yesterday, while passing near the Isle of Beeren-Eiland, which was hidden -from our view by the fog, we saw myriads of birds of all kinds, among -others a large number of sea-gulls. - -This morning the thermometer stood at 2° above zero (Centigrade), 35·6 -Fahr. - -There was hoar-frost all along the rigging, and the sailors on the watch -above cannot be overwarm. - -We met a Norwegian sailing boat which was hunting walrusses, and had been -cruising for several days in sight of Spitzbergen; they gave us some -useful hints as to the state of the ice. Every now and then a sailor took -soundings; the depth was from 15 to 20 fathoms. - -The _Virgo_ has just stopped her engines; the officers are holding a -council. We are at the 76th degree of latitude, and we have not much -further to go in order to reach Ice-Fjord, where we shall put in first -before proceeding to Norsk-Oarna. - -To the right the mountains covered with eternal snow; in front of us -an impassable ice-field. There is an open passage near the coast, but -the captain does not know the depth of water there. He is examining his -charts. We shall have to wait. However, I fear a delay which will not -suit Andrée. - - - - -III - -The Installation - - -_Wednesday, June 17th, in lat. 77° N._—After having vainly sought a -passage during the whole of yesterday, the captain considered it wise to -take refuge in the Horn-Sund Bay, a small natural port to the south-east -of Spitzbergen, where he cast anchor this morning at four o’clock. - -Here we are secure from all danger, and shall patiently wait till the sea -is open, which will not be long. - -Our little harbour is a marvel of creation; a ring of mountains covered -with snow, the summits of which were this morning veiled in mist. Immense -glaciers, from which portions detach themselves with a fearful crash, -animate this white landscape, while at the same time they inspire us with -a feeling of vague dread. Gigantic icebergs, resembling in their shape -and bluish colour immense crystals of copperas, are drifting about in -the middle of the bay—a veritable oasis, where the temperature is very -mild, notwithstanding the snow which covers the ground almost entirely. - -The sun is very hot, casting a golden reflection over the whole of this -charming picture, which the birds enhance by their glad song, as if to -testify to their joy and love of life. - -At 9 a.m. we set foot on _terra firma_ with undisguised satisfaction. -Andrée, Ekholm, and Strindberg go ashore equipped with their instruments. -They fix our bearings and determine the magnetic declination. - -In fact, they have been working incessantly since we went to sea. They -are true men of science, in love with their work, learned, yet making no -show of their knowledge. The geologists have found a vast field for their -researches, and the botanists have been able to collect at their ease. -However, while the fauna is varied enough, the flora is very scanty, -being confined to a few lichens, with mosses of a pretty green colour, -cochlearias, and dwarf saxifrages, the tiny violet flowers of which are -charming to behold. - -Some climbed the mountains and descended the slopes on ski, the beloved -snow-shoes of the Scandinavian. Others went hunting with the arms -presented by Swedish armourers to the Polar Expedition. As for myself, -I was content to admire this imposing nature, and tried to utilise -my modest talents as an amateur photographer, in order to perpetuate -on negatives the splendid picture in which the _Virgo_ was set, now -appearing reduced to Liliputian proportions. - -Our general quarters were established on the ruins of an encampment which -had belonged to a party of Siberian hunters who spent the whole of last -year on this spot. - -There are many fragments of driftwood cast ashore by the waves, and -numerous bones; a sailor picked up an enormous vertebra of a whale, and -the doctor extracted a molar from the jaw of a bear (the bear was no -longer there to protest). - -The pilot went to explore the sea from the top of the mountains. No -change this morning in the state of the ice. - -We reassembled on the _Virgo_ for lunch at two o’clock. Andrée went in -the ship’s boat to shoot seals, but without hitting any. After lunch we -returned to the shore, and each of us occupied himself according to his -taste. The sky cleared up, and a very cold and cutting east wind arose. -The boat was tossed about a good deal as we returned, and the current -drove before it all the pieces of ice floating in the bay. At 11.30 p.m., -at the moment when I am writing these lines, a sun-ray is falling through -my porthole, and the wind is whistling with some violence. - -_Saturday, June 20th, 4 a.m._—Pleasant awakening at the mouth of the Bay -of Ice-Fjord, opposite the _Raftsund_, which has been at anchor since -last night. - -Weather dull, a fine cold rain. A boat comes towards us, bringing a -correspondent of the paper _Aftonbladet_, of Stockholm, who is to -accompany us to Norsk-Oarna. - -[Illustration: ARRIVAL OF A GENERATOR.] - -A small boat brings my friend Vieillard, who is the bearer of despatches -for me. We spend two hours together, and my joy is great at seeing him -again, and at last hearing news from my family. Then the moment of -parting comes. M. Vieillard rejoins his vessel in order to return to -France; he takes with him my letters and despatches. I take several -negatives of the _Raftsund_, a splendid boat; and the _Virgo_ then -continues her course towards the north, after having exchanged the -customary salutes. - -The sea is free from ice, and the _Virgo_ is now going ahead full speed. - -_Sunday, 21st._—Towards 2 a.m. we arrive in sight of the Norsk-Oarna -Islands, the place intended for the erection of the shed and the future -centre of our operations. - -During the morning we take a reconnoitring trip by boat round the islands -in order to find a favourable place, accessible to our vessel, the -unloading of which will be very difficult in the absence of a landing -quay and all the plant usually available in any port. - -The charts which we possess of this region are very inaccurate. Andrée -takes a survey of several points of the coast. The huntsmen in the -boat bagged about ten eider-geese. We gave up the idea of establishing -ourselves here, and in the afternoon we reached the Isle of Amsterdam, 7½ -miles to the south-west. - -The sky is clear, the air is keen and cutting. - -_Monday morning._—The three explorers made a fresh survey, and Andrée -finally decided on the little vale of Dansk-Gatt as the point where we -are to establish ourselves. - -The place is sheltered on all sides by high mountains, opening out to -the north only upon the open sea. A wooden hut, formerly constructed by -an Englishman, Mr. Pike, will serve us as a shelter, and we shall leave -there the surplus of our reserve store of provisions. This hospitable -little house already possesses a depôt of preserved provisions, coal, and -various articles. The ground is strewn with pieces of rock and covered -with snow, into which one sinks up to one’s knees. - -_Tuesday, June 23rd._—At 6 a.m. the vessel began to unload; all the -boats are out at sea. The _Virgo_ cannot approach nearer than within 164 -yards of the bank. The disembarkation of the balloon and the gas plant -will present very serious difficulties, and will certainly take up much -precious time. - -Thermometer 2° (35·6 Fahr.) above freezing point. Barometer 29·92 inches. -Wind south-west, fresh. Sky cloudy, clear patches at rare intervals. -Sun very hot. Sea calm. The steam launch has got up steam. Mr. Pike’s -yacht came to visit the house on the 16th inst. This little structure, -built entirely of wood like the Norwegian houses, is comfortable enough; -it contains a dining-room, bed-rooms, and a kitchen. There are stoves -in all the rooms, and our sailors have lighted them in order to dry the -walls; the lock shuts badly, and the door is kept to with a piece of ice. -The garret serves excellently as a dove-cot, and we install our pigeons -there, but they will not be so comfortable there as in their ordinary -pigeon-house; nevertheless, it will be a convenient shelter for them. -These pigeons have been trained at Hammerfest. We have already despatched -several while at sea, but do not know yet whether they have returned to -Norway. - -_Wednesday, June 24th._—The unloading of the vessel proceeds rapidly. The -site for the shed is ready, and the carpenters are starting work. - -This shed, intended to shelter the balloon, deserves special mention. -Designed in a very ingenious manner, it was erected at Gothenburg, where -the inhabitants of the town could inspect it before it was dismantled for -shipment. It is of octagonal shape, and consists of four storeys, each -measuring 196·8545 inches in height. The various storeys are joined to -each other by means of bolts; the last storey is surmounted by a balcony -all round. - -In order to facilitate re-erection in Spitzbergen, the component parts of -each storey are marked with marks of different colour. The floor of the -shed is composed of timber work, all meeting in the centre, and made fast -on the rocks with pieces of wood, for the ground is very irregular, and -it is impossible to level it. - -On the east and west sides, two staircases lead to the balcony, and at -the same time serve to strengthen the structure. - -The re-erection of this shed at Dane’s Island was very laborious. It was -carried out with much skill by the two master carpenters, assisted by the -crew. - -It was necessary, first of all, to remove the snow which covered the -ground, to lay foundations, and join together the beams, which were put -up and shifted by means of a hand-winch placed in the centre of the -structure, and slewing all round. - -[Illustration: ARRIVAL OF A GAS GENERATOR.] - -The work was frequently interfered with by storms, which compelled the -carpenters to interrupt their task. - -The framework, when once put up, was closed in with large panels of wood -prepared in Sweden. - -The upper part of the shed is carried up on the south side, above the -rest of the structure, by means of beams 16 feet 4 inches high, carrying -a canvas cover, intended to protect the top of the balloon against a -violent wind. - -A movable roof or canvas awning, sliding on wire cables, was intended to -protect the balloon against snow. Unfortunately time did not permit of -putting it up in position. - -_June 26th._—In the morning the sun appeared; the sky is very clear, and -the snow is slowly melting. The temperature is pleasant to-day; but now, -in the afternoon, the cirri are approaching, and I believe that the fine -weather will not last long. - -The _Virgo_, relieved of part of its cargo, was able to get within 66 -yards of the shore. The crew then proceeded to discharge the heavy -packages, hydrogen generators, and the case containing the balloon. The -three ship’s boats, coupled together, were made up into a kind of raft, -hauled by the steam launch. - -In order to bring ashore these packages, which weighed from two to three -tons, it was found necessary to form a roadway (or a kind of inclined -plane), with the aid of two large pine logs brought from Norway, and to -haul them by means of a pulley tackle drawn by the whole of the crew. - -One is struck with the calm and intense stillness which reigns in these -regions remote from all civilization. The mountain birds alone break its -monotony, and give us a joyous concert. - -In roaming over the islands, one is surprised at the number of tumuli -and human remains to be met with. This is because Spitzbergen, too, has -its history, and that a rather troubled one; but we will not speak of it -here. - - - - -IV - -The _Victoria_—Bear Hunting - - -On the 27th of June, in the afternoon, our attention is attracted by the -arrival of a vessel coming from the north. It is always a pleasant event -to come across other navigators in these distant regions; it makes one -feel less lonely and isolated. It is Mr. Pick’s _Victoria_, commanded -by Captain Nilson, who hunts bears and seals on these shores. She casts -anchor near the _Virgo_. We enter a boat and go to welcome the travellers. - -Andrée obtains some information from the captain as to the state of the -ice in the north. I pay a visit to the boat, which, though otherwise -plain and rough, is nevertheless fitted up to perfection for the peculiar -nature of her expeditions. She contains various objects which are not -without interest for me, who am a new-comer to these regions, such as -skins of bears and various birds; also a live young bear, captured at -the Norwegian islands, which utters ominous growls, and seems to protest -energetically against this outrage upon its liberty. - -Sunday, the 28th of June, was an eventful day, and full of emotions. The -_Victoria_ left at 9 a.m. for Ice-Fjord, taking with her an enormous -parcel of letters, with our best wishes for our nearest and dearest. - -After an early lunch we started for an excursion. Strindberg, Grumberg, -Arrhénius, Dr. Ekelund, two engineers, two sailors, and myself, went off -in the steam launch. - -The weather was superb, the sea calm, the sky a little misty; some pretty -cumuli touched the summits of the mountains. We steamed round Dane’s -Island, and shaped our course towards Smeerenburg. - -Our little boat goes ahead full speed, and gives herself up to a mad race -among floating ice-blocks which cover the surface of the bay. - -The spectacle is marvellous. We are surrounded by imposing rocks, whence -the snow descends in capricious veins and furrows, and whose craggy -summits, gilded by a glowing sun, are set off against an azure sky of -exceeding purity. These granite rocks, of grotesque and erratic shape, -throw the most fantastic shadows upon the white surface of the glaciers. - -The atmosphere is so transparent that it is very difficult to estimate -distances merely by the eye. The mountains are from 2,000 to 3,000 feet -high, and yet at first sight one would think that they are very easy to -climb. I have very often been misled by this optical illusion. Sounds can -be heard very clearly at a great distance. - -We cross the course of the little sailing boat of Stadling, the -correspondent of the Stockholm _Aftonbladet_, and the colombophile of the -polar expedition. - -He is also starting on a journey of discovery, together with two -companions. - -We take our course towards the east, and land on a little islet covered -with moss. - -Our guns bring down several eider-geese, and on setting foot ashore we -came across several nests of these birds, containing three or four eggs -of the size of goose eggs and of a greyish-green colour. - -But our survey is soon made, and we resume our course in a south-easterly -direction, where we can already see the outline of the Isle of Moffen, -which is the goal of our excursion. - -This isle presents a singular contrast with the surrounding mountains, -owing to the vigour of its colouring, which changes from a light-green to -a dark-brown. - -The mosses of different varieties, interspersed with yellowish lichens -and saxifrages of a delicate violet tint, offer us a soft carpet, -inviting to rest, and delighting to the eye. - -Thousands of birds, making a deafening noise, inhabit this enchanted land. - -But their tranquillity is disturbed by our prosaic and insatiable -hunters, who give themselves up to a veritable hecatomb of game. They -have scarcely got ashore, and about one hundred eider-geese are already -lying on the ground. They are so numerous and so unsuspecting that they -will scarcely move away more than a few yards from us; one can easily see -that their solitude is rarely disturbed by visitors of our species, or at -least of an equally bellicose character. - -[Illustration: THE _EXPRESS_, THE _ERLINE JARL_, THE _VIRGO_, DEPARTURE -OF THE _VICTORIA_.] - -They much resemble our domestic ducks, and one might easily imagine one’s -self in the midst of a park or a poultry yard. At one moment I had about -ten around me, come to drink or bathe in a little brook of clear water, -which babbled in a cascade over the moss and pebbles. - -At every step one comes across a nest made of moss and feathers, -sheltered by a fragment of rock. The female bird has plucked off her -softest down to protect her eggs or her brood against the frost. The -brooding bird is scarcely disturbed by our approach. She covers up her -eggs and hides them under the down before taking her flight, if she is -given time to do so. The reports of the gun repeated again and again by -the echo reverberating from the mountains resemble the rolling of thunder -and make a hideous din. - -At four o’clock, a lunch, highly appreciated, is served out on a bank -of moss. This meal, partaken with vigorous appetite, consists of ham, -caviar, and slices of smoked reindeer-flesh; the whole being washed down -with light beer, and seasoned by the most unrestrained gaiety. A pure -Havannah cigar completes this most unconventional feast. - -We fill our lungs with the pure air, and feel it a joy to live. - -But time glides swiftly by, and we must think of returning. We are two -hours’ journey from the _Virgo_. - -Our sailors make an extensive raid upon the nests, and return loaded with -baskets full of eggs and down. The game is put on board and we depart. - -As we run along, the coast and glaciers are covered with seals, but the -noise of our engine frightens them and they flee at our approach. - -The sea has become rough, and the wind, which takes us port, sends up -waves which threaten to swamp the boat. We are much tossed about, but I -can now stand the rolling of the vessel like an old mariner. However, -we must not boast: one cannot be too sure of anything. The temperature -has gone down perceptibly, and the cumuli, which a short time ago were -hovering on the sides of the mountains, are now lowering down upon the -sea, and soon envelop us completely. We are now in the midst of a very -dense and cold fog. We can scarcely see a few yards in front of us, and -we must slacken speed in order to avoid collision with the icebergs -detached from the glaciers. The sun, which, a moment ago, still showed -very feebly, has completely disappeared. We are plunged into utter -darkness, and in spite of compass and charts we have, for the moment, -lost our bearings. What a change, after the aspect of the sky a short -while ago! The engineer whistles by way of a call to the _Virgo_, but -there is no response from that vessel. - -Without being actually desperate, our situation is becoming critical, as -we no longer know exactly what distance we have covered. - -We run a risk of passing our island without perceiving it, and of getting -lost at sea! - -At last, after several detours, we recognise the lagoons of the Isle of -Amsterdam on the right, and soon a sailor points out the _Virgo_, which -looms in the semi-darkness at a distance of fifty yards or so in front of -us. - -At this moment it is 8 p.m. The captain, Andrée, and Ekholm are on the -deck. Without being alarmed at our fate, they were glad enough to see us -back again; but Stadling’s boat has not yet come back. - -The mist becomes thicker and thicker, and one can scarcely see from one -end of the vessel to the other. One of the crew is ringing the bell -every few moments, in order to indicate the route to the three belated -tourists. The supper passes off very gaily. Each recounts his adventures -and describes his impressions; mine have been of a very lively nature. -But the day had still a far more remarkable event in store for us. - -We were beginning to be rather troubled about the fate of our friends, -when at about 10 p.m., having gone up on to the gangway to see how the -fog was, I heard, very faintly at first, a murmuring sound, then a song -keeping time with the splash of oars. No doubt it is they; evidently -they, too, have lost their way. - -The outline of the gallant little craft appears a few yards away, and the -boat comes on propelled by oars, as they had been compelled to take down -their sail. But what is that shapeless mass, of a doubtful white, spotted -with red, which fills the bottom of the boat? - -Although worn out with fatigue, the excursionists are radiant; they have -performed veritable prodigies: they have been bear-hunting, and bring -back three dead bears in their frail boat. - -[Illustration: DANES ISLAND.] - -They are at once the object of an enthusiastic ovation, while the -animals—a large she-bear and two cubs—are hoisted on board, leaving a -pool of blood in the bottom of the little boat. - -You already know Stadling, permit me to introduce his two -companions—Appelberg, engineering student of the Stockholm technical -school, and Axel Stack, chemical engineer at the Stockholm University—and -let the first-named gentleman recount in his own words the circumstances -of this somewhat dramatic adventure:— - -“You will remember the charming day we had on the 28th of June; the sun -glistened on the waters of Smeerenburg as on a mirror, the surrounding -mountains enhancing the wildness and grandeur of the scene. You will -also remember the glacier at the bottom of Smeerenburg. I have told you -about the adventure we had opposite this glacier, when in consequence of -a sudden split a detached mass of enormous size produced in the sea an -immense wave, which threatened to engulph our small boat and gave us an -unexpected douche. - -“Immediately after this adventure I hastened to take a photo of the -glacier. While searching for a suitable point, I discovered in the snow -on the shore the track of three bears going from east to west, in the -direction of South-Gatt and the open sea. Having informed my companions -of this lucky find, I returned to the boat, followed by my friends, one -of whom was gravely engaged in drying his clothes in the sun, after the -enforced bath caused by the splitting of the glacier. - -“Thereupon a rather original chase commenced; my companions rowed, whilst -I held the rudder lines, at the same time observing through my glasses -the tracks on the bank and following their direction. The tracks of the -bears led us continually from east to west. Here and there the animals -evidently had rested in some natural trenches formed in the snow. In -other places there were sloping grooves on the bank, where the bears had -amused themselves by sliding on these natural sledges. Having passed two -promontories and a very old glacier, we arrived at a third promontory, -beyond which there was another glacier about 1¼ mile wide. In front of it -there was an iceberg. - -“When we arrived at the extreme point of the promontory, we stopped, as -no further tracks were visible; from this we concluded that the bears -must be somewhere in the neighbourhood. - -“Having reconnoitred as far as the firm ice, protected by large icebergs, -I perceived the bears below the glacier, jumping one after another from a -block of ice. The mother, followed by her cubs, was giving herself up to -this exercise either to amuse herself or to give her young ones a lesson -in gymnastics,—I do not know which. - -“At any rate I watched with curiosity for some moments this scene of -ursine family life. It was an exceedingly curious sight, I assure you. -But this patriarchal and rustic scene was destined soon to come to an -end, thanks to the huntsman’s instinct which suddenly awoke within me. I -felt bound, at all cost, to kill this interesting family, the mother and -her cubs. Why? Who can reason with passion, who can reason with a hunter! -Without further idle reflection, and as the chief of a gang who has -resolved upon an immediate attack on a long-desired prey, I ordered my -comrades to remain in the boat until I returned, and on my knees I crept -over the ice, behind the fragments of rocks, towards the three animals. -This ice was perforated like a sieve, and the water fell from it in -small cascades with a continuous and monotonous noise; small fragments -were detaching themselves from it every moment, without, however, -retarding my progress. - -“Regardless of all risk, I continued to drag myself along behind -fragments of rocks and approached to within about 430 yards of my quarry. -Now I had no longer any shelter; I was exposed to view. Then I took a -long aim, fired and wounded one of the cubs. The mother rushed towards -it, sometimes looking about her, and sometimes licking the poor beast. - -“I could see her very closely with my glasses. I fired a second time, -and the mother then turned furiously towards me. My cartridges had got -damp and missed fire. I became nervous. I was obliged to go and fetch -fresh ammunition from the boat. The she-bear gave up her first idea of -attacking me and returned to her cubs. - -[Illustration: SMEERENBURG GLACIER.] - -“Then, having taken fresh ammunition, we commenced, all three of us, -to drive the animals towards the open water, and at last, to our -delight, saw the mother, followed by her cubs, start swimming. Mr. -Stack remained on the ice armed with an oar, in order to cut off their -retreat; Appelberg and myself gave chase from the boat. The she-bear, -with one of the cubs on her back, swam at a fairly good pace towards us. -We had scarcely had time to row three or four minutes before the mother -had climbed upon a large block of ice floating in the midst of the open -water. Having approached to within fifty or sixty yards I fired again, -and my bullet striking the bear between the two shoulders, passed through -her lungs. The animal uttered a terrible cry, which was re-echoed from -the mountains. In a great fury she threw herself into the sea, swimming -towards us with rage, but only for a few moments. The poor beast soon -died, still carrying on her back the cub which I had first wounded. It -was at once killed, and the other immediately afterwards. - -“We thereupon dragged the animals towards the ice-bank, where I -photographed my victims, stretched out lifeless; and it was not without -much difficulty that we succeeded in putting them aboard our frail -boat. At last we started on our return to the _Virgo_, still full of -excitement, when suddenly we were caught in the fog in the midst of the -Smeerenburg waters.” - -The next day the ice pilot, an old sea-dog, assisted by Stadling, -proceeded to cut up the three animals, the skins of which were salted, -and enclosed in barrels; after this the most delicate morsels, seasoned -with various sauces by the cook, who displayed all her talents, adorned -the table at several meals. Without being absolutely exquisite, the dish -is appetising, and besides, the chance of dining off polar bear does not -occur very often. - - - - -V - -The Midnight Sun - - -_Friday, July 3rd._—I have not put foot on shore to-day. For three days -past we have had terrible weather, and I wonder whether the shed will -be able to resist the fury of such a wind. However, this is an east -south-east wind, which would suit perfectly well for the voyage, though -the start would be very difficult under these circumstances; this delays -the work of the carpenters, and the shed does not rise up very quickly. -I felt very dull to-day, and was happy enough to read again all the old -journals which had served for packing purposes, as I am not very well -stocked with works of a purely literary character, a few volumes only -composing my whole library. I also read again the expedition of the -_Jeannette_, which Andrée had lent me, and the dramatic episodes of that -story were not calculated to raise my spirits. What an extraordinary -climate! - -In these regions fine days are very rare, though it is clear all night; -but for a long time past the sun has scarcely been seen. The thermometer -remains near freezing-point. - -But the midnight sun! What a never-to-be-forgotten spectacle is presented -by this polar sea in these radiant nights! - -As soon as the fog lifts its veil, leaving the eye at full liberty to -roam over the horizon, one sees an endless succession of palaces of ice, -strong castles, cathedrals, and fantastical structures, some majestically -indifferent to the waves which caress their mighty bases, the others -slowly rocking to and fro, notwithstanding their ponderous masses, and at -each oscillation of their sparkling faces emitting from their alabaster -sides rocket-like flashes of emeralds, rubies, and sapphires. - -[Illustration: THE _VIRGO_, AMSTERDAM ISLAND.] - -Numerous cascades pour down from the vast sides of these icebergs -into basins formed in the very bases of these enormous ice-mountains, -subsequently losing themselves in the waters of the sea; and all these -waterfalls, large and small, are lit up by the hot, red rays of a -brilliant sun. - -This polar nature, which one imagines to be so poor, so icy, so inert, in -regions which we only know from dull and cold narratives of voyages,—this -wonderful nature lavishly spreads out before my eyes the sight of an -endless mass of sparkling and flashing diamonds, a veritable pyrotechnic -display of another world, which the rays of the sun cause to burst forth, -and change twenty times in a minute. - -And all this, like a sublime jewel casket, rests on velvet of an -unheard-of variety, delicate green, pale pink, orange red, crimson, -bright red, purple, golden yellow, violet, sky-blue, a marvellous velvet -of deep soft and delicately shaded tints, which the calm and irradiated -water seems to spread out for the greater delight of the eye and the soul. - -In the presence of all this grand and mighty nature, what becomes of -man’s most ingenious artifices invented to charm by the excess of -accumulated marvels? - -How paltry are the most superb decorations of his theatres compared with -what one sees here—here where the water alone and the sun undertake -the _mise en scène_! What are all the marvels hatched by his brain, by -his sovereign industry, in the presence of miracles of colouring and -brilliancy engendered by a ray of light penetrating a fragment of ice? - -_Tuesday, July 7th._—We had very bad weather on Saturday; on Sunday -the atmosphere calmed down a little, and yesterday (Monday) we had a -splendid day. We took advantage of this to make an interesting excursion -in the steam launch to Magdaleina Bay. The peninsula contains an immense -necropolis, dating back several centuries; it is here that the whalers of -Smeerenburg came to bury their dead. - -We killed a very large seal, which nearly caused the boat to capsize -when we got him on board. Strindberg killed a black fox at the foot of a -glacier. - -We returned at midnight in brilliant sunshine; in fact, at present we -constantly see the sun when the sky is clear. He is describing a circle, -of which the _Virgo_ appears to be the centre, and the sunshine is -sometimes very hot. This morning the temperature was 68° Fahr. in the -sun, and 41° Fahr. in the shade. - -The work of erecting the shed is being pushed on as quickly as possible, -but it is a gigantic task. To-day they have reached the second storey; -there are to be two more storeys above that, and these are the most -difficult ones to erect. - -In the midst of this feverish work the days pass anxiously by, for I -have had no news from Europe. I am already much perturbed, when at last, -on the night of July 12th, after a very dull day, the watch all at once -signals the arrival of a small sloop, which is sure to bring our mail. In -a few moments everybody is on deck, and the captain of the small boat, -the _Express_, hands us an enormous bundle of letters, which Andrée -distributes among us. I received fourteen, and it would be difficult for -me to express the joy I felt at this moment. - -The _Express_ brings six English and German tourists, who have come, -somewhat early, to be present at the departure of the balloon. They are -received on board the _Virgo_, and evince a very lively interest in -Andrée’s project. - - - - -VI - -National Fête - - -_On board the “Virgo,” July 14th, at night._—The bad weather continues, -and the squall is so violent that the little sloop _Express_ has been -unable to put to sea. We have a very gay lunch. Andrée made a little -speech, which greatly moved me. He spoke of the national fête in France -and of aerostation, which I represent. He praised the self-denial which I -had exhibited, and finally expressed to me the pleasure he felt in seeing -the bonds of friendship becoming closer day by day. He did not forget -either family or friends. - -The captain ordered the French _tricolore_ to be hoisted on the mainmast -and the ship to be dressed with bunting. Champagne sparkled in the -glasses. - -[Illustration: ARRIVAL OF THE CAR.] - -Strindberg played the national air, and those present overwhelmed me with -kind attentions. The following letter will give an idea of the close -friendship which reigned amongst us:— - - “On Board the _Virgo_, Dansk-Gatt, - _July 14th, 1896._ - - “To MADAME LACHAMBRE, Paris. - - “DEAR MADAME,— - - “To-day being the national _fête_ day of your native country, - _la belle France_, we gladly seized the welcome opportunity - to present to M. Lachambre our sincere thanks for the great - services which he has rendered to our expedition by the careful - and excellent work which he has executed, and for his personal - attendance here in order to give us the benefit of his valuable - experience. Certainly, this voyage has been a great sacrifice, - both for you and for him, and it is, therefore, our duty to - thank you as well as M. Lachambre. - - “We have this day drunk the health of M. and Madame Lachambre, - at the same time hoisting the tricolour and singing the - ‘Marseillaise.’ On this occasion Andrée has had the honour - of fixing on M. Lachambre’s breast the decoration of the - Academical Palms, and we have congratulated him with enthusiasm - on receiving this well-merited distinction. - - “We beg you will rest assured, Dear Madame, that we are doing - our best to minimise the inconveniences resulting to M. - Lachambre from a life in these very inhospitable regions. - - “We are, Dear Madame, - - “Yours most respectfully, - - (Signed) “S. A. ANDRÉE; NILS - EKHOLM; NILS STRINDBERG; - ZACHAU, captain of the - _Virgo_; GOSTE GRUMBERG, - zoologist; CARL EKELUND, - physician; SVANTE - ARRHÉNIUS, hydrographer.” - -And while Strindberg strummed on his violin the most poetical and -impassioned Swedish tunes, the wind raged outside and the vessel rocked -and creaked fearfully. - -_Dansk-Gatt, on board the “Virgo,” July 16th, noon._—The storm, after -calming down for a short time, burst forth again last night with renewed -violence, and the _Express_, which left at eight, was obliged to return -in haste some hours afterwards to take shelter near the _Virgo_. - -The _Virgo_ is a strong vessel, capable of braving a storm, but it -is otherwise with the small sloop, which already has barely escaped -shipwreck in coming here. - - - - -VII - -The Inflation - - -_July 21st._—To-day for the first time we were able to commence devoting -our attention to the balloon, which, since its disembarkation, has -remained enclosed in its case at the foot of the shed. - -It is now brought to the entrance and extended on the floor, covered with -a thick layer of felt. - -It is spread out after the manner of a cast-net, the valves are fitted to -it, together with their rigging, the net is placed in position, as well -as the protecting cover. - -The inflating pipes, passing through an opening made in the middle of the -floor, are joined to the gas apparatus situated 87 yards away below the -shed, behind Pike House. - -This very difficult work (the envelope alone of the balloon weighs nearly -3,086 lbs., and the net 992 lbs.) was finished in the evening of the -22nd, in a fine and penetrating rain. On the morning of the 23rd snow -commenced to fall in large flakes. The balloon is covered by it with a -thick layer, when about a hundred cubic feet of gas commence to raise -with difficulty the heavy envelope of silk. This operation commences even -before the shed is quite finished. Part of the upper enclosures is still -wanting, and Andrée abandons the idea of having the canvas awning put up, -which, however, would have been very useful; but time presses, and every -delay may jeopardize the departure. - -The car, installed in an annex to the shed, is marvellously devised. -The lower part is completely surrounded with sailcloth. It receives its -light through two lateral windows. The middle is occupied by a kind of -mattress, covered with a sleeping sack of reindeer skins. - -All around are compartments for holding books, charts, and instruments, -toilet articles, and the kitchen utensils, arms, ammunition, etc. It -is entered through a trap-door made in the ceiling. Above, at a height -of one metre, a ring, mounted on jointed railings, which keep it in a -horizontal position, forms a balcony, in the centre of which two of the -explorers will remain while the third is resting. To this circle the -instruments,—compasses, sextants, theodolites, barometers, thermometers, -photographic appliances, etc., are attached. - -The six ropes, by which the car is suspended, are joined at the upper -part by a cable, which brings them nearer to the centre, while keeping -them away from the balcony; they then extend from this hexagon towards -the suspension ring, which is fastened to the net. - -Six canvas pockets, with compartments, are fixed between the suspending -ropes from the ceiling of the car up to the balcony, for the reception of -any articles or instruments which the aeronauts may require to have at -hand at any moment. - -The load ring carries a table or board divided into compartments occupied -by four baskets intended to hold a number of accessories, buoys, -grapnels, ropes, etc. - -In the centre of the platform a square opening leaves room for a rope -ladder, attached to the appendage of the balloon, and facilitates the -inspection of the interior through windows let into the safety valve. -This platform may, if necessary, serve as a refuge for the aeronauts, -should they be compelled to abandon the car. - -The load ring supports a differential pulley for moving the guide-ropes, -the action of which, combined with that of the sail, is to afford the -possibility of a certain deviation from the direction of the wind. - -The sails are fixed to the net by hemp straps. - -The three guide-ropes are attached to this pulley by a very ingenious -piece of mechanism. With the aid of a crank and a bevel gear, the -guide-ropes, which are composed of several sections joined to each other -by screw connections, can be turned. Should the end of a guide-rope get -caught between the ice to such an extent as to arrest the flight of the -balloon, the aeronauts can release themselves by exerting an effect of -torsion on this guide-rope by means of the crank, and abandoning the -length of rope caught; a fresh length of guide-rope will then be added at -the top if necessary, making use of spare lengths of rope. - -[Illustration: AN EXCURSION TO MAGDALEINA BAY.] - -In order to prevent the guide-ropes becoming detached at an inopportune -moment, Andrée has devised the plan of providing a spring consisting of -a flat piece of steel which exerts a pressure upon the connecting screw -nut; the pressure of these springs is graduated, increasing upwards, so -that it will always be the lowest length of rope which will detach itself -first. These guide-ropes are impregnated with vaseline, which renders -them insubmersible and greatly facilitates their gliding over the ice. - -Above the ring, victuals and provisions of all kinds are stored in -canvas bags divided into compartments and strongly fastened between the -suspending ropes; all the articles are fixed so that no shock can throw -them out. - -The number of suspending ropes is forty-eight, forming forty-eight equal -intervals, of which thirty-six are occupied by bags of provisions, and -twelve by sledges, boats, spars, etc. - -The provisions comprise tins of preserved food of all kinds, chocolate, -compressed bread, condensed milk, champagne, claret, alcohol, fresh -water, not forgetting butter, an indispensable article of diet in the -polar regions. - -All these bags are weighed, classified, and labelled, and make up a -weight of 2,204 lbs. What is not consumed will serve as ballast, Andrée -having considered it more practical to carry provisions in place of -ballast. - -The apparatus for cooking the food consists of a cylinder suspended by a -strap 32 feet 6 inches in length, along which a rubber tube runs; inside -the cylinder a spirit lamp is lighted by being brought in contact with a -match ignited with the aid of a small and very simple contrivance worked -by a cord. - -A small cooking pot filled with water, and enclosed in the cylinder, can -be made to boil in a few moments. The lamp can be extinguished from the -car by blowing down the rubber tube, and a mirror, arranged at an angle -of 45 degrees, enables the occupants of the car to see whether the lamp -is well extinguished before hoisting the apparatus up into the car. - - - - -VIII - -The _Erline Jarl_ - - -_Dansk-Gatt, July 23rd._—The south wind, which has blown almost -constantly since our arrival at Dansk-Gatt, ceased on the 19th of July, -and north and north-easterly winds are now blowing, with their usual -accompaniment of rain or snow. - -The gas-working apparatus acts very regularly, yielding about 78 cubic -yards per hour. - -The work is divided into spells of six hours at a time, the first watch, -from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., being entrusted to me. I am assisted by two seamen -only, one of whom speaks French fairly well,—viz., a Mr. Knos, engineer, -who has signed for the voyage. My place is then taken by Strindberg, who, -in his turn, is relieved by Andrée, whom I succeed again. - -At 11 p.m. the sound of a siren breaks the stillness of the night, -awakening the echoes of the mountains. I then see the _Erline Jarl_, -a splendid boat, flying the Norwegian flag, coming on slowly and -majestically, in order to cast anchor at some distance from the _Virgo_. - -Around the place where the sulphates and residues of the hydrogen -apparatus discharge into the sea, the sea-water has assumed a rusty -colour for a distance of several miles. This peculiarity causes great -astonishment among the new arrivals, who imagine that they can see the -sea-bottom. - -Captain Zachau, of the _Virgo_, goes to welcome the new-comers, and -returns on board his vessel with a load of letters for our crew. - -The snow falls thicker and thicker, and the shed does not afford the -least protection. I have a kind of sentry-box rigged up for me in the -packing-case for the net of the balloon. - -We experienced much difficulty at the commencement of the inflation, and -I am frequently compelled to obtain assistance from the gas works, the -material of the balloon being so very heavy to shift about. - -[Illustration: SOLAR OBSERVATIONS AT MAGDALEINA BAY.] - -I may mention one incident in particular. The balloon had already -absorbed 1,308 cubic yards of gas, when the apparatus suddenly stopped -and absolutely refused to act, which caused great excitement among the -members of the expedition. What does it mean? Here is the solution of the -enigma. - -The pump, which draws its supply from the sea, has taken up such a -quantity of shrimps that all the cocks are choked up. We scarcely -expected to see shrimps interfere in this matter. - -Andrée, who had thought of everything else, had forgotten to reckon with -these diminutive factors. The generators and valves are cleared out and -cleaned, and the suction pipe is fitted with a rose, whereupon work goes -on without any further hitch. - -For the production of the hydrogen 55,115 lbs. of sulphuric acid and -33,069 lbs. of iron shavings have been used. All that chemistry and -physical science has hitherto produced by way of purifying, weighing, and -testing instruments is embodied in Andrée’s plant. - -On the morning of the 24th of July the tourists brought over by the -_Erline Jarl_ begin to arrive on the island; there are about sixty of -them, from all countries. Several of them bring me news from my friends, -and an acquaintance is soon struck up. We are assailed with questions on -all hands. Andrée does the honours of the establishment with much grace, -and propounds his theories as to the means he proposes to adopt in his -endeavours to reach the pole. He explains the instruments and apparatus, -while I distribute among the tourists some samples of the material -employed for the balloon. - -We hear news from Europe, always acceptable to a degree which no one can -conceive who has never been far away from his native country. Besides, in -these wild regions everything tends to augment the unconscious longing -for all that one has left behind, and those who come from a region more -or less near to one’s native country at once assume something of the -nature of long-expected personal friends. - -The night of the 24th is spent very pleasantly. I dine on board the -_Erline Jarl_, and hear a concert given by real artistes. My thoughts -wander back to scenes of the past, and I say to myself that had some -one sitting next to me at a concert in Paris told me at the time that -in so many months, or at such and such a time, I should hear the same -instruments and enjoy the same tunes at Spitzbergen, I should have been -very much surprised at such a suggestion. - -_Saturday, 25th._—At noon the small sloop _Express_ arrives, carrying -mails. At 1 p.m. the _Erline Jarl_ leaves on a trip towards the north. -The programme consists in approaching close to the ice-field, and the -amiable Captain Bade offers me a place on board his ship. But, however -much inclined to accept, I cannot leave Andrée at this moment, as the -balloon demands all our attention. - -_Sunday, 26th._—Andrée lectures to our crew. His spirited and expressive -language, his technical explanations, given with perfect clearness, -frequently elicit loud applause. - -_Monday, 27th._—The inflation is completed at the moment when the _Erline -Jarl_ returns from her trip. - -The _Victoria_ arrives at night, and the simultaneous presence of the -four vessels gives Dansk-Gatt a festive air, which is greatly enhanced by -the lovely sunshine. Our little international colony is very lively. - -After waiting a week in order to witness the start of the balloon, the -tourists lose patience. They want to be at Vadso on the 9th of August to -see the eclipse of the sun. - -On July 30th a sumptuous dinner is given us on board the _Erline Jarl_, -and on the 31st the tourists come in a body to the foot of the shed. - -To the right and to the left of the entrance the crews of the _Virgo_ and -the _Erline Jarl_ are formed up in line; at the back the passengers are -grouped round the explorers. Several speeches are made by the captain of -the _Erline Jarl_ and some of the tourists; thereupon a young lady, who -is travelling with her _fiancé_ and a relative, attaches to Andrée’s arm -a blue ribbon, and then hands him for the journey a bottle of the best -wine, a cake, and a rose-tree with four roses, one for each explorer. - -Captain Bade, of the _Erline Jarl_, then addressed Andrée as follows:— - -“If you reach the mysterious point for which you are bound, deposit there -the fourth of the roses, as a token of peace with the old world.” - -“My dear friend,” Andrée replied, in accents full of emotion, “you who -have come so far to see me set out for the conquest of the unknown, my -dear friends, I thank you! - -[Illustration: THE _VIRGO_ DECKED FOR THE 14TH OF JULY FÊTE.] - -“Mademoiselle, you have adorned me with a ribbon on the eve of my -departure; this ribbon shall be my talisman. I have been called a great -man, but it will be difficult for me to earn this title if the north -winds still continue to blow for some weeks as they do now. Our greatness -will fly with them—far, far away! What can we do to remedy this? If we -cannot make a start, we shall, at least, be able to say that we have -done all that is humanly possible, and you will be able to bear witness -thereto. - -“You are about to return to the south, and if you meet the winds we are -so urgently in need of, send them on to us here, and we shall welcome -them as messengers from our good friends on board the _Erline Jarl_. - -“My friends of the _Virgo_, a fourfold cheer for our friends who will -send us a South Wind!” - -During this touching speech the _Erline Jarl_ fires off a salvo of -twenty-one guns in honour of the Andrée Expedition, the report of which -shook the valleys to the echo. - -Thereupon, the speeches being over, we leave the isle in order to spend -the rest of the night on board the _Erline Jarl_, which is dressed, as -is also the _Virgo_, with a multitude of flags, as on great gala days, -and I never feel weary of contemplating the noble colours of the French -flag proudly floating at the head of the splendid vessel,—a delicate -compliment to me on the part of the captain, which moves me more than I -can tell. - -How full of meaning to me is this flag! How full of souvenirs and -consolation! And how well one can understand, when far away from his -native country, all the silent eloquence of this impersonal being, this -glorious symbol! Amidst all these people, speaking languages which I do -not understand, amidst all this group of men isolated at the world’s -end, and I myself feeling lost in the midst of them, so to speak, owing -to the difficulty of making myself understood by them, it contains a -living embodiment of my native land, the very representative of the soil -of France—her flag hoisted on a foreign vessel in token of the esteem in -which the children of this noble country are held. And this flag seems to -say to me: “You are not alone; I am here too! You are no longer isolated; -we are _some one_; we are taken into account here!” - -We go on board, and soon the peaceful reports of champagne corks—another -reminder of French soil—accentuate the numerous toasts which follow -each other in the large saloon. Then our spirits becoming more and more -elated, there are songs, cheers, the loud hum of animated conversation, -wishes of good luck, plans for future meetings, and we leave the -hospitable vessel in order to return to the _Virgo_ at a very advanced -hour. - -What a day! And how hearts are drawn to each other under circumstances -like these, when at rare intervals, few and far between, the oppressive -and monotonous loneliness of arduous travels in these frigid solitudes is -suddenly broken by boisterous meetings of persons, hitherto strangers, -who are so speedily transformed into old friends! - -_August 1st, 9 a.m._—Under a misty sky, heavy with snow, the _Erline -Jarl_ hoists her anchor, sweeps round majestically, sends us her last -farewells and good wishes, and then slowly glides away over the waters, -leaving behind her a foamy wake. The throbs of her engine become more -and more regular; soon we no longer hear them; and it is with a choking -sensation in our bosom, which will readily be understood, that we see -this fine vessel outlined and gradually disappearing on the horizon, -which, for a short moment, had come to bring life and joy into our midst. - -Yet a long time after, leaning with my arms on the handrail of the -gangway, I followed with my eyes the black cloud of smoke which the -_Erline Jarl_ trails over the waves; I still hear a last salute from the -siren, and return in deep thought to my cabin, in a sadder frame of mind -than I should care to admit. - -Grumberg, the naturalist, is working unceasingly to enrich his -collection; he dredges, fishes, hunts, and sets snares for foxes. He has -succeeded in capturing two very young animals, which he has installed -on the island, in a nice improvised cage, to which some anonymous wag -has attached a card bearing one of the petitions of the Lord’s Prayer in -Swedish: “Give us this day our daily bread.” - -[Illustration: STRINDBERG.] - -Grumberg watches his protégés with jealous care, and intends to offer -them to a zoological garden in Stockholm; but on the night of the -departure the foxes, who for a long time past had been working to effect -their escape by gnawing through the boards of the cage, made good their -escape and fled into the mountains, pursued by the sailors, who gave -chase. They are not caught yet. I much doubt whether Grumberg will be -able to catch them again next summer. - -But who knows; Fate is so fitful! You ought, said some one, to have -attached a “favour” to their tails, so as to recognise them again. I, -on my part, remarked that these young foxes might, perhaps, have been -acquainted with La Fontaine’s fable, entitled “The Little Fish and the -Fisherman,” and that they would be sure to return to him as soon as -they had grown to a reasonable size. And I amused myself by producing a -revised copy of this fable, specially re-edited to meet the circumstances. - - TRANSLATION. - - The little fox will grow a big fox, - Provided God will grant him life; - But to release him in the meantime - I think would be foolish indeed. - - Two foxes that were but foxlets, as yet, - Quite young little things, - Were captured by chance - By the good Doctor Grumberg - On the Isles of Spitzbergen. - -“All is fish that comes to the net,” said he, on beholding his prey. - - They will serve to start a collection; - Let us make a pretty cage for them. - -One of these foxlets, regretting his captivity, said to him, in his own -fashion,— - -“What are you going to do with us? We should make a very poor present for -a small museum. - -“Let us grow up into foxes; you can catch us later on, some fine day, and -a good museum will pay you a good price for us. - -“Whereas, in order to make a gift worth giving, you would have to get -about a hundred of our size, which gift, after all, would be little -worth.” - -Little worth? “Well then,” replied the hunter, “that may be. - -“My good friend, Renard, you who preach so well, you must go into the -cage; and you may say what you like, it will be made at once. - -“‘One bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,’—one is sure and the -other is not.” - -But the two foxlets, deaf to these remarks,—possibly they did not -understand the doctor’s language,—worked so hard and so well, that one -day the learned man, in search of curiosities, found an empty cage. - -The amiable Dr. Ekelund has rarely had any occasion to act in his -professional character, as apart from a few jammed fingers and other -minor injuries the state of health is excellent. Hence he employs his -leisure time in pulling nails out of cases, or else he prepares for -stuffing the birds of various species which he has killed when out -hunting. During the inflation of the balloon, he superintends the action -of the gas apparatus, and takes turns in this duty with Professor -Arrhénius and Stake. - -These gentlemen are also taking their share in the meteorological service -which is carried on regularly by the staff of the expedition. - -The observations are minutely recorded every hour in the ship’s -log. On the Isle of Amsterdam the snow is tinged with red for a -considerable distance, and the _savants_ are collecting it to examine -it microscopically. It presents, in fact, certain peculiarities; it is -thought that it contains very small plants. Scoresby, the famous whaler, -had already remarked this. - - - - -IX - -The Snow - - -_Dansk-Gatt, August 4th._—The _Express_ left last night, carrying away -our last letters; and as the season is advanced, we have now no hope of -receiving at Dansk-Gatt any more news from Europe. - -The north wind is still blowing, and has brought a regular snowstorm; the -mountains have donned their winter mantle, and nature seems to prepare -for sleep. Birds are becoming rare, and their joyful cries are no longer -to be heard. A white hood covers the top of the balloon, which only -awaits a current of wind from the south to take flight; but this wind, -which was blowing during July, has now completely subsided. What an -irony of fate! Who could foresee such a _contretemps_, and how admirably -successful the expedition would have been were we in possession of the -secrets of the gods. - -[Illustration: THE CUPOLA OF THE BALLOON (TOP OF THE SHED).] - -At present the sky is overcast and dark in the north; it is a long time -since the sun has shown itself. The sea is very rough. - -The flag hoisted on top of the mountain, behind the balloon-shed, to -indicate the direction of the wind, was blown down last night by the -squall. It was the opinion of the ice-pilot that we were in no danger -of being packed in the ice until the end of the month; but the captain, -who was answerable for the safety of the men, declared that the _Virgo_ -should weigh anchor on the 20th at the latest, at any cost, to resume her -voyage southwards, no matter what the fate of the polar expedition might -be. - -Andrée and his two companions were patiently waiting for the clouds to -break up and for a fresh southern wind, in order to take their flight. -They have the faith which gives courage. The balloon seems anxious to be -freed from her fetters to show her strength and her power. Everything is -ready, weighed and anticipated; everything is seen to and checked in the -smallest details by Andrée; provisions, instruments, and outfits, all are -in their places. - -We have only to suspend the car and to pull down the northern part of the -shed. This would not take many hours, but we want a favourable wind, and -for this we are waiting in vain. The delay, unavoidable though it is, -endangers the success of Andrée’s expedition, and is very regrettable, -for the sun is very low, and the polar night is approaching. - -_August 5th, noon._—The snow keeps on falling, but the wind is turning -to the south-west. It is almost what is required, and hope is quickly -reviving. May Fate soon open the route to the north to Andrée, and return -me to my country and my anxious family! At seven o’clock in the evening -the state of the atmosphere remains unchanged; the snow is whirling -about, and the sky is gloomy. - -_Dansk-Gatt, August 6th._—A small balloon, launched at 6 o’clock, having -ascended to the height of 325 yards, took an easterly direction. The gas -apparatus is working; the balloon which has been inflated for ten days, -is full. It is covered with snow and there is not a single spot on the -balloon shed that is not white. The car is, however, protected by an -awning, but the whirling snow penetrates everywhere. - -It is impossible to stop on deck, for the wind is raging, and the day -goes by in monotony and gloom. Every one longs for the end of this -campaign which seems interminable; so long as tourists and whaling boats -were moored near us, and brought with them life and movement to this -solitary spot, our stay was very agreeable—it was a lively and cheerful -international colony. Now Dansk-Gatt has resumed its mournful and -forsaken aspect. “And the snow was still falling,” as Xavier de Montépin -would say. - -Then, confined within the walls of my cabin, my dominion of two square -metres, I begin to peruse the few books I have and which, alas! I know -already by heart, but still hoping to find therein something very -interesting, if not new, at least old. And I was not disappointed, for I -read over with great interest _La Mer_, by my playfellow, the excellent -poet Jean Richepin, whose verses on snow were very much to the point. - -It is long, long since, when sitting on the benches in our little school -at Belleville, we were looking together over the top of the map of Europe -at this small archipelago, named Spitzbergen, which appeared to my -childest imagination to be an inaccessible point. - - - - -X - -A Long Wait - - -_Smeerenburg, Friday, August 7th._—Noon. The sky is bright and the sun is -sending us a few rays which are reviving our hopes a little. The snow is -melting; but the wind, though slight, is still blowing from the west. The -balloon which holds its gas well is dripping little by little. - -I made a long excursion on the east side of Dane’s Island. The island -of Fogll-Sund is glittering in the midday sun. The birds have awakened. -I saw several flocks of eiders. At six o’clock four pilot balloons are -launched, three were driven south-west at 547 yards and one towards the -sea at 65 yards. - -_Saturday, 8th, 10 o’clock._—Sky overcast, wind slight and uncertain, -with tendency to turn S.E. Thermometer 7° (44·6 Fahr.). - -Afternoon, S.E. wind at 1,093 yards; on land wind still, or slightly to -the north. - -At nine o’clock in the evening the upper wind is still S. Let us hope -that it will descend and that, at last, our plans may be realized. - -_Sunday, August 9th._—Morning, S. wind slight; afternoon, dead calm; -hardly any need to say every one is weary. Ekholm declares that the -balloon is losing about 66 lbs. per day; he thinks it able to stand a -voyage of from forty to fifty days’ duration. But under the circumstances -it is really very little; yet the envelope is solid and well finished. - -_Monday, August 10th._—Balloon very full although no gas was let in since -last Friday (sixty-five yards). Temperature somewhat higher. S. wind, -very slight, barometer at a standstill. - -_4 o’clock p.m._—Wind on land, nil. - -A pilot balloon launched at 2 o’clock. Rose to 109 yards; direction N. -Speed from thirteen to fourteen feet per second. Evening, 7 p.m., S. -wind, pretty strong in the upper regions. - -Then a complete change, the north wind prevailing. - -What, then, are we going to fail at the last moment? - -Must we pack up this balloon, ready to take her flight to a land around -which so many vain efforts have been made for centuries past? - -“My kingdom for a horse!” cried Richard III., in one of those struggles -in which the human wretch thinks he acquires so much glory by massacring -his fellow-man and by spreading death in his path. And what would not -the three hardy explorers have given for a breath of favourable wind, -which would have enabled them to carry on the struggle they had commenced -against the unknown! - -What bitter reflections came into my mind! - -In a smiling country, where everything bespeaks work and prosperity, -where each one trusts to the future, happy in the labours undertaken, -happy in his daily tasks, suddenly there arises this very wind so much -longed for here, and in a few minutes the tempest in its blind fury has -sown death and ruin where life and wealth were working together! - -Here science stood in need of a little of this destructive wind, of ever -so little, but none came. - -And possibly, further away, ships were being wrecked and lives destroyed -by it. - -[Illustration: THE BALLOON IN THE SHED DURING ITS DEFLATION.] - -Oh, for a balloon that could be steered! Why have we not one here? - -_Friday, August 14th (19th day of inflation), 7 a.m._—The lieutenant -has just informed us that a south wind is blowing; in fact it is pretty -strong. The gas apparatus is set to work to complete the inflation. - -The snow is falling gently, but it melts quickly. At nine o’clock Andrée -launches a small balloon which takes a northerly course at an elevation -of forty to fifty yards, but it immediately turns off to the east as it -rises, _then the wind turns due west and we cease to hope_. - -Our joy was of short duration. Besides, the season is now too far -advanced to attempt such a voyage. It is winter. - - - - -XI - -The _Fram_ - - -At half-past nine the ice-pilot signalled a three-master off the eastern -cape of the Isle of Amsterdam. - -Great excitement prevails on board the _Virgo_. What object has this -vessel in coming to these regions visited only by whalers and tourists? -She stops and hoists the Norwegian flag on her main mast. One cry went up -from all hearts: “Nansen! Nansen coming back from the Pole.” - -Those who had seen the photo of the ship _Fram_, recognise her perfectly -well in the steamer which is lying at a distance of 2½ miles from us. - -The snow is falling fine and thick. The captain and Andrée, Ekholm and -Strindberg, are leaving in a steam launch to receive their valiant -compatriots. When a few fathoms from the _Fram_, Andrée and his -companions raise a vigorous cheer in honour of Nansen, but the faces -of the sailors on board are saddened with a painful expression. Nansen -is not with them. On the 14th of March, 1895, he left them at 84° lat., -accompanied by the young lieutenant, Johannsen, taking with him sledges, -twenty-eight dogs, and provisions for 120 days. He directed his steps -towards the North Pole in the hope of returning by way of Franz-Josef -land, where the Jackson Expedition was to winter. - -After the exchange of greetings of welcome and when the emotion of the -first moment had subsided, the members of the two expeditions indulged -in a friendly conversation, happy and surprised at the same time to meet -again in the glacial Arctic Ocean, free at last. - -The _Fram_, which only a day before was packed in the ice at 81°, heard -of our presence from a whaler; as soon as she was in open water she made -for Dansk-Gatt in the hope of getting news of Nansen. - -Captain Sverdrup, Lieutenant Hansen, the doctor and five other members of -the crew, take their places in the launch. The remaining three men stay -on board, while the small party are coming to visit our quarters and the -balloon, which is waiting in the shed. - -It is easy to imagine how greatly these brave men are astonished. - -Then the expedition comes on board the _Virgo_ where champagne soon foams -in glasses. It is a pleasure to look at these brave sailors who, after -three years and two months passed amidst the polar ice, are so happy to -find themselves in the company of their “brothers in arms, and companions -in peril.” - -I am proud to be one of the first to greet the _Fram_ on her return to -these distant regions. I had the good fortune to converse at some length -with Lieutenant Hansen, who speaks French fairly well. He is an amiable -man, of about thirty years of age, a little over medium height, dark, -with bright eyes and intelligent forehead, and pleasing manner. - -He put numerous questions to me concerning the events which had taken -place in Europe during the last three years. I informed him of the death -of Alexander III., of the assassination of President Carnot, etc., and -I spoke to him also of new discoveries and inventions: cinematographe, -X-rays, etc., etc. - -[Illustration: THE SHED AND THE BALLOON CASE.] - -All this seemed to greatly interest him. Then in a few words he told me -the extremely touching story of the _Fram’s_ voyage. - -Andrée made a speech and proposed a toast to Nansen and his gallant -companions. The captain and the lieutenant replied in a few vigorous and -moving words, and I felt myself struck with admiration for these brave -men who have carried the European colours to the 86th degree of latitude. - -They are happy to see their country and their homes again, but they are -calm and patient as becomes true heroes. The lieutenant has a _fiancée_ -awaiting him, Andrée hands him a letter, only just arrived, from his -mother. He also hands Captain Sverdrup a letter addressed to Nansen, and -bearing the inscription, “The North Pole.” - -The _Fram’s_ library contains the _Five Weeks in a Balloon_, by Jules -Verne, and the crew had often dreamt of the possibility of a balloon -expedition coming to their relief. The dream was very near reality. In -life everything is unforeseen, yet everything happens. If the polar -balloon had started a few days ago it would have surely noticed the -_Fram_ on its way. “Man proposes and God disposes.” - -It is painful to think that we shall have to take the aerostatic material -back to Sweden and wait. - -Disappointment for Andrée’s polar expedition: joy and triumph for the -Nansen expedition if their commander returns soon. - -Andrée places in the captain’s button-hole a sweet-scented rose, “La -France,” a rare flower in Spitzbergen, and offers him a box of excellent -cigars, a present which is greatly appreciated by our genial guests. Then -the launch takes them back to their vessel amidst the hurrahs of the crew -of the _Virgo_. - -At five p.m., in a fine chilling snow, we pay our visit to the _Fram_ and -take photos of her. - -When we are near the ship about twenty Siberian dogs, ranged in her bow, -receive us with loud barks, but soon they recognise that we are friends -and their bark is rather one of joy than any indication of hostility. -They are all pleased at our caresses. Captain Sverdrup does the honours -of his ship, which, if she has not the refined elegance of the _Erline -Jarl_, yet inspires confidence by her sturdy appearance. She is the -traditional Norwegian ship, with wooden hull well strengthened, her masts -and her bulwarks roughly cut; in the bow the upturned boats, placed on -frames, form a kind of shelter under which are suspended a couple of -dozen bears’ hams, partly cured and dried; birds freshly killed for -eating, casks and articles of every description, winch, anchors, cables, -etc. In the stern the tiller is placed in a square hole made in the hull -of the ship. On one side a spare tiller consisting of a massive piece of -wood; compass, instruments, and the necessary rigging. - -I stop at the observation post where the lieutenant tells us about his -work and shows us the charts of the voyage; then we descend into the -cabins, passing near the kitchen from which proceeds a very agreeable -odour. - -Traversing about ten steps of a very dark staircase, I find myself in the -saloon, which has a hexagonal shape not devoid of originality. A lamp, -with a reflector, fixed on the central pillar, emits a vague light to -which my eyes accustom themselves with difficulty. - -The wainscotting is of a primitive style of decoration, painted white, -picked out with bright colours, in which red and green predominate. -There is a very comfortable sofa in the background, placed opposite a -table, at which the crew take their meals. The walls are adorned with -several pictures, one of which is an illustration of a Norwegian legend: -three princes, who have metamorphosed themselves into white bears in -order to win the hearts of three coy princesses whose hair seems to be -flying heavenwards. The bears, good princes as they are, are licking -their feet. Another picture is the portrait in crayons of Mrs. Nansen and -her child. The saloon is heated by a stove, which keeps it at an even -temperature of 15 to 16 degrees. Air and light are admitted by a glazed -skylight running across the stern deck. - -On the left there is an automatic harmonium with a keyboard, to amuse the -crew on dull days. One of our hosts, the engineer, improvised several -tunes for us; it is wonderfully original, and if it were not for the -respect due to Nansen, we would have invited the fair Charlotte, the -stewardess with whom the reader is already acquainted, to have a dance, -as the ladies were with us. - -For more than three years woman had not entered Nansen’s ark, and the -crew were demonstratively gallant. The cabins of the crew are situated -around the saloon whence they receive their supply of air, having no -other communication with the outside; they are lighted by lamps fixed -on the walls. The cabins of the captain, lieutenant and doctor, with -their maps, instruments, arms, and different other objects, are very -interesting: photographs and hundreds of weird objects constitute a droll -_ensemble_. - -In every cabin there is a portrait of the loved one. - -The captain showed us the chart of the _Fram’s_ voyage as made out by the -observations; and after that a collection of very curious photographs -representing the life and the stirring wanderings of the crew since their -departure in 1893. The vessel in the midst of the ice, their winter -quarters, the encampment, the glaciers, the icebergs, the observations, -the mirage, the aurora borealis, the _Fram_ buried under the ice which -almost annihilated her, the crew working fifteen days with pickaxes to -clear away the ice, the sledges, the dogs, the windmill at the mizzen -mast for driving the electric dynamo, the moonlight, Nansen’s departure, -etc., are so many pictures which one cannot look at without heartfelt -emotion, and which leave far behind everything written or pictured by -Jules Verne in _Captain Hatteras_. - -We leave the _Fram_ at nine p.m. after hearty farewells. - -During the night the Nansen expedition peacefully took its course to the -south. They have still on board provisions and coal for three years. - -_Sunday, August 16th._—The snow ceased falling, and the sun who does not -renounce his rights, comes for an instant to restore another glimmer of -hope; the wind, although mild, vacillates and appears to tend northwards. -Another disappointment. - -At last, on _Monday, August 17th_, after twenty-one days of waiting -in feverish anxiety, Andrée resigns himself to open the valves of the -balloon, which is quite full; and it is with regret, easily understood, -that I watch the escape of 17,658 cubic feet of gas, to produce which -gave us so much labour. - -[Illustration: THE SWEDISH GUNBOAT _SVENSKSUND_.] - -The folding and packing are not easy work. And then, as the case of the -balloon had been destroyed, it was necessary to improvise one and take -the whole material back on board the _Virgo_. The planks of the shed, -except those of the second storey, required for the stability of the -edifice, have been removed. The gas apparatus is covered over, and all -the delicate or fragile parts are shipped on board. - -_Thursday, August 20th._—The _Virgo_ is loaded. The morning was spent in -solidly tying up all objects which might be shifted by rolling. Andrée is -working in the shed up to the last moment; he is tying down the boards, -shrouding the frames; he has the half of the floor carried off so that -the wind may sweep away the snow. Then he leaves, fixed to a post, a -framed placard stating the ownership and the object of the shed, which he -commends to the care of the few fishermen who are still in the islands of -the North. - -Finally, after lunch, at four o’clock, the _Virgo_ weighs anchor. We -take a last photograph, and a last look at Dane’s Island, which soon -disappears in the fog. The expedition is at an end. - - - - -XII - -The Storm - - -The barometer has undergone a rapid depression since last night. Hardly -had we rounded Amsterdam Island, taking a south-west course, when the -vessel began to roll, and a few moments later the storm struck us. The -sky darkened and the _Virgo_ lurched terribly. I was again a prey to -terrible sea-sickness and retired to my cabin. All the kitchen utensils -and earthenware vessels are dancing a jig round me. The _Virgo_ which has -lost some of her ballast is rolling frightfully. The captain has had a -small jib placed at the bow which lessens the rolling. - -The wind is raging and furious waves are sweeping the deck. Only a few -of the crew have escaped sickness, and in the evening the dining-room is -empty. - -Every two hours the ship is stopped and Professor Arrhénius takes -samples of water at various depths; when the engine stops the rolling is -still worse. We are overtaken by a snowstorm and darkness is complete. -After twenty-four hours on a south-westerly course, which is taking us -away from Tromsö, the _Virgo_ returns south-east, and the storm begins to -subside. We see ships at a distance, and the temperature rises as we draw -nearer to Norway. - -It was on the 22nd that we passed near Beren Island, which was hidden by -the fog. A number of birds surrounded our ship which is again sailing -fast. - - - - -XIII - -My last Night on the _Virgo_ - - -The storm has blown over. I recovered my appetite and my good humour, and -the night of the 23rd-24th was a very pleasant one. - -For some time past I had seen no darkness, and this night was not without -poetic surroundings. - -A few stars are already twinkling in the zenith, when at about ten -o’clock the sun disappeared from the horizon leaving a long twilight -which lasted until dawn. - -[Illustration: A LAPLANDERS’ CAMP.] - -The sky was tinted with purple hues forming an immense rainbow, -stretching from west to east. Grey clouds of the weirdest forms travelled -through space, and lent animation to a view which it would be difficult -to paint. The full moon, which appeared as the sun set, shone brightly, -casting her white light on the silvery waves. The disc was extremely -large, and the outlines of the land were shown very distinctly. - -Alone on the bridge, I gave myself up to my dreams. The temperature -having perceptibly risen, I experienced the greatest comfort in sailing -thus in the direction of the land. My companions were hardly able to -rouse me from my contemplation and induce me to go down and play cards -in the dining-room, where a lamp was lit for the first time. The sea was -as calm as a lake, and navigation was a pleasure in this calm after the -storms we have endured. - -_August 24th._—It is dawn, the moon is waning and the day-star resumes -possession of the scene. Birds still accompany us and whirl round the -_Virgo_, the black smoke of which unrolls itself like a plume of feathers. - -We are approaching the Norwegian coast, and can see the cliffs. Vessels -and craft of every description are moving to and fro. We are coming back -to life; we feel that we are returning to civilization. The breakfast -at nine o’clock is very animated. The weather is warm, and we are all -preparing to make our entrance into Tromsö. - -At eleven o’clock we are at last in sight of the town, and by noon the -_Virgo_ is berthed in the port opposite the _Fram_, which we had met at -Dansk-Gatt on the 14th of August. - - - - -XIV - -The Return - - -We are at once surrounded by friends, and learn with pleasure that Nansen -is a guest on board the small white yacht _Otaria_, anchored near the -_Fram_, which she brought in tow from Hammerfest. - -I much regret not being able to shake hands with him, but I am leaving -my companions after sincere and heartfelt farewells to take my passage -on the mail boat _Haakon Jarl_, which is leaving in a few minutes. Dr. -Ekelund accompanies me to Trondhjem. One of the officers on board hands -me letters and papers from France. Now, then, I am going to have a -foretaste of the pleasure of again seeing those dear to me; I already -feel that they are near me. - -The _Haakon Jarl_ is a superb steamer, conducting the mail service along -the coasts of Norway, where railways are unknown. - -Navigation through the fjords is full of charms and surprises. The -landscape is of the most varied description: at one time tall rocks, -snow-capped like the mountains of Spitzbergen; at another, green -wooded hills, fertile prairies with large herds of cattle grazing, -and arable land in all its luxuriance. Little hamlets on the mountain -sides, villages, châlets nestling mid fir trees and beeches suggest the -picturesque scenery of Switzerland. - -The vessel threads her way through the islands, and touches at all the -stations on her route. - -The plaintive sound of the siren re-echoes from the mountains, announces -her arrival, and small vessels surround the steamer to receive and -deliver dispatches, to take off passengers and their luggage, and then to -make for their various destinations. - -[Illustration: A WHALE.] - -The fore-deck is one mass of cases, heaps of bricks, casks, bales, bark, -and articles of every description. With the exception of a few tardy -tourists going from Tromsö to Trondhjem, as it is already late in the -season, passengers seem to change at every station. In some places the -banks on either side are quite near, and it requires all the skill of -the captain to make his way between the beacons, and avoid the numerous -rocks scattered along the course. During the winter the passage is -lighted by the lighthouse, but just now the nights are short, and there -is very little darkness. We pass a great many vessels going through the -Loffoden Islands. - -Meals are served in a sumptuous saloon, and the traditional amateur -concert takes place after dinner. The evening is spent in smoking cigars -on deck, where Nature is the leading feature on the programme. The scene -is as full of variety as of surprises. - -First the sun, whose immense scarlet disc sinks slowly into the wave, -leaving in its track a fiery horizon. The whole sky is coloured with -tints running the gamut from violet to light grey. Clouds assume -fantastic forms, merge into one another, transform their outlines, -then disappear; then the pale moon appears, and its silvery glimmer is -reflected on the waters. - -I stand for hours together in an ecstasy of admiration before these -changing pictures, so little known to Parisians. A few stars are shining -in the firmament; the air is pure, the night calm, and the atmosphere -pleasant. - -I can breathe freely and enjoy life. The light breeze, which brings us -the perfumes from the pine woods, is barely enough to stir the surface of -the sea. In the wake of the ship is a long phosphorescent track. Every -turn of the propeller brings me nearer to my country, the main object of -my thoughts. - -The _Haakon Jarl_ stayed a few hours at Bodo, a small Scandinavian town, -beginning to show traces of civilization. Doctor Ekelund and I landed. -We were pleased to find some newspapers, in which a meeting of Andrée -and Nansen at Tromsö was referred to, also the Polar voyage chart of the -celebrated Norwegian explorer. We afterwards attended an open-air concert -given by a family of German artists. - -During our passage to Torghatten, a small troupe of the Salvation Army -came on board, and amused us a good deal with some of their musical -performances, and their devout, though rather extravagant, practices. - -The captain, a respectable lady, with her head concealed at the farther -end of a huge poke-bonnet, which would not be out of place at Madame -Tussaud’s, was gravely seated in a rocking-chair, and presided over the -spiritual concert given by the members of the congregation. The devout -musicians, leaning against a heap of dried cod-fish, sang in more or -less plaintive tunes the praises of the Lord, who doubtless understands -all languages. For my part, I did not understand a single word of these -hymns, but I could judge by the faces of the audience that the music, -which _emollit mores_, did not convince them. It was a wonder we did -not throw them some small change; we expected that one of the pleasant -company would go round, hat in hand, to make a collection for the -expenses of the institution, or for any other more prosaic purpose. - -A pretty young girl, of sixteen or seventeen years of age, with her hair -arranged after the fashion of Miss Helyett (doubtless the captain’s -niece), followed in a book, though with a distracted sort of devotion, -the songs of the Salvation Army. - -However, the amusements on board were not very numerous, and this was -the chief item, as far as I was concerned, in the passage from Tromsö to -Trondhjem, where the main body of the army awaited their brethren, who -were coming from the North to gain souls for Paradise. - -_Thursday, August 27th._—About four p.m. the town of Trondhjem appeared -to be south-east. This is the haven so long wished for, although I have -no right to complain of this latter portion of my voyage, during which no -one suffered from the rolling of the vessel. The largest northern town -in Norway, where the houses and buildings are made entirely of wood, has -really an original appearance, and I sincerely regretted that I could not -make a longer stay; but a few hours afterwards I left my amiable guide, -Dr. Ekelund, and took a quick train on the single-line railway which was -to carry me, within seventeen hours, over the 310 miles that divided me -from Christiania. - -The train started with some difficulty, and could only ascend the -first incline with the aid of a locomotive coupled on behind. At last -it proceeded at its normal rate of speed; the line was so bad that my -carriage was shaken terribly. The pinewood structures seemed extremely -fragile, and the bridges thrown over the lakes and streams made one -giddy. - -After our two months stay at Spitzbergen, where the vegetable kingdom is -represented by moss and lichen, it was pleasant to come back to verdure, -trees and flowers. Here Nature is displayed in all her splendour, and I -should never tire of admiring the marvellous landscapes, the châlets, -the torrents and the waterfalls which all contribute to the grandeur of -Norwegian scenery. - -The farmers gathering in the harvest, the wood-cutters cutting down -trees which they send down from the top of the mountain by the river, -which conveys them to a port where they will be received and either sent -to a saw-mill or shipped on board a trading vessel—all here is life -and movement. What a contrast to the frozen solitudes of Spitzbergen! -Hamar is the terminus of the narrow railway. Here we entered the elegant -carriages that cross to Elsinore; and lastly, a few hours later, we -neared Christiania and descended at full speed such a steep incline that -at each moment we asked ourselves with terror where we should go if the -brakes failed to act. - -On getting out at Christiania, we found ourselves in the midst of -civilization. At the station I was assailed by an army of touts, from -whom I only escaped by taking refuge in the fly from the Grand Hotel, -where French is spoken, and where I found a degree of comfort to which I -had become unaccustomed—the refined luxury of great cities. At breakfast -I listened to a concert that would not have been out of place on our -_grands boulevards_. I visited the town, which is very interesting, and -made purchases of furs and articles of which Norway has the monopoly, -various knick-knacks and little trifles that afterwards serve to remind -us of our wanderings. I stayed two hours in Copenhagen, and at last -on Sunday the 30th of August I embarked, at dawn, at the mouth of the -canal at Kiel, on board the mail-boat _Skiruer_, on which I made my last -passage. All the passengers on the boat were on deck to see the German -fleet which was drawn up at this station. Twenty ironclads, a great many -despatch-boats and torpedo-boats lying at the entrance of the canal -excited great curiosity; moreover the spectacle was new to me as well as -to most of the passengers, and it is not one that can be seen every day. - -[Illustration: DEPARTURE FOR A HUNTING EXPEDITION.] - -At last I arrived at Hamburg and came on to Paris, passing through -Cologne and Liège. - -The polar balloon was returned to me a little while after, to be kept -until the time when M. Andrée should start on his expedition. - -By my advice, Andrée agreed that I should increase the volume of his -balloon as much as possible by adding to its equator two zones of silk of -treble thickness, thus bringing the cubic measurement of the balloon to -about 176,582 feet. The result of this addition was an increase in the -ascending power of nearly 650 lbs., which is not to be despised. - -The outer envelope was then re-varnished inside and out, and, the -repairing being completed, the balloon was sent off towards the end of -April, 1897, to Gothenburg to be shipped on board the _Svensksund_. - -Andrée’s new companions, M. Fraenkel, acting member, and M. Svedenborg, -assistant, came to Paris in the spring[1] to go through a course of -balloon practice. They made a series of ascents for practice from the -aerostatic park at Vaugirard in the “Nobel” and the “Fram,” under the -direction of Messrs. Machuron, Lair and myself. - -Notwithstanding my desire to revisit the polar regions, I gave up my -place to my nephew and collaborator, who, more fortunate than myself, -witnessed the departure of the balloon. - -Awaiting the return of the courageous explorers, I conclude the account -of this voyage which will constitute an epoch in my life and will leave -behind it ineffaceable memories. - - HENRI LACHAMBRE. - -PARIS, _October 14th, 1897_. - -[1] As Strindberg did last year. - - - - -SECOND PART - - - - -I - -Departure of the Second Expedition - - -On the 18th of May the town of Gothenburg prepared to witness the -second departure of the Polar Expedition. On the quays of the port the -inhabitants assembled in crowds testified to Andrée their admiration for -his ever memorable undertaking. - -The rebuffs he experienced last year had not shaken his faith; he still -stood firm, and was still the same, with his eagle eye and his iron will. - -Notwithstanding his modesty, Andrée could not help being moved by the -enthusiastic manifestations that were showered upon him. His perseverance -disarmed the most sceptical. The good wishes of everybody followed him -and his companions. People at last understood that this innovator is a -man. - -At six p.m. the _Svensksund_, which had no other decoration than the -national flag, weighed anchor amidst the tumultuous acclamations of the -public. Most of the ships were decorated with flags and saluted the -_Svensksund_ as she passed them. - -We rapidly left them behind. - -As was the case last year, a number of vessels laden to the water’s edge -crowded round the port. Some filled with friends and relations of the -explorers accompanied us as far as the open sea, where the last adieux -were said. One boat came alongside and took the telegrams which we wished -to send to our families and friends. - -Soon the shores of Sweden, gilded by the rays of a beautiful sunset, -gradually disappeared from the horizon, and we were steaming along on the -open sea at full speed. - -The _Svensksund_ is a Swedish gun-boat of 300 tons, solidly built, which -in winter renders great service to merchant vessels by cutting passages -through the ice, with which the port of Gothenburg is blocked during the -period of frost. - -[Illustration: ON THE ICEBERGS.] - -This boat, which is manned by picked men, and admirably suited for -cruising in the Arctic regions, has been graciously placed at the -disposal of the Andrée Expedition by His Majesty the King of Sweden. - -On board were all kinds of valuable articles, scientific instruments and -the aerostatic apparatus; the balloon was placed in the best ventilated -position, and will be able to make the voyage without the least danger. -If our vessel is strongly built and calculated to resist the pressure -of ice, its flat form is less suited to the open sea, and causes -considerable rolling. I soon felt the first symptoms of sea-sickness, -and retired to my cabin where I remained until the following evening. -On the 20th of May I woke up relieved, although my brain was still -somewhat clouded, but this feeling was soon dissipated on the deck by a -fresh breeze and a bright sun. We were in sight of the Norwegian coast; -and we soon entered the fjords where the voyage became more enjoyable -between the high mountains that fringe the two opposite shores. Very -little vegetation; moreover the snow still covered all the more elevated -parts and those that do not catch the rays of the sun; spring was just -commencing at this latitude. - -Along the shore are scattered a few habitations, generally low and -surrounded sparsely by shrubs which were just beginning to put forth -their first green leaves. - -At noon we arrived at Bergen, an important Norwegian port, which is -advantageously situated, the vegetation being much more advanced here -than in the districts we had been passing through. Here the banks were -green and beautifully tinted; the background consisting of snow-covered -mountains, which reflect a dazzling light. - -We left Bergen at two o’clock, after having engaged a pilot to steer us -through the fjords. - -The sky was clear, the sea calm and still; moreover, here, the wind has -no sweep, and there is no fear of storms. We saw on all sides birds -and wild ducks of various species, and occasionally dolphins showed -themselves disporting in the water. - -Suddenly the scene was changed. - -We passed into a fog, which was slight at first, but gradually became -denser and denser; we had to slacken speed, and at four o’clock were -obliged to stop, the course becoming dangerous amidst the numerous -islets and reefs with which the fjords are studded. - -The captain anchored his vessel for the night in a little bay sheltered -by high and precipitous mountains (latitude 60° 48´, longitude East -of Greenwich 4° 48´ 30´´). This delay enabled us to attend a grand -dinner given by the officers of the vessel, Captain C. A. Ehrensvärd, -Lieutenants G. Norselius and G. Celsing, and Dr. J. Chr. Lembke, to -welcome the members of the expedition, M. S. A. Andrée, engineer, and -head of the expedition; Messrs. Nils Strindberg, of the University of -Stockholm, and Knut Fraenkel, civil engineer, the companions of Andrée; -Lieutenant Svedenborg, assistant; and the engineer, Stake, to whom is -entrusted the erection and management of the gas apparatus. M. Fraenkel, -in the name of his mother, who conceived the idea of this delicate -attention, presented each member of the expedition with a souvenir. This -was a silver napkin ring, bearing on one side, in Swedish, SOUVENIR OF -THE POLAR EXPEDITION, 1897, and on the other, engraved in a shield, the -name of the recipient. - -The dinner, which was extremely well arranged, did credit to Lieutenant -Celsing, the steward of the ship; we had set before us the best of claret -and champagne, the greater part of which was supplied from presents sent -to the expedition. - -Captain Ehrensvärd, in the name of all the officers, wished us welcome, -and enthusiastic toasts were drunk in honour of Andrée and his -companions, and also to the success of their undertaking. The members of -the expedition were toasted, those engaged to be married in particular; -these last toasts concerned Strindberg and myself more especially. - -Andrée read several telegrams received at the time of the departure from -Gothenburg, which contained the last expressions of sympathy from distant -friends. - -The dinner went on amidst great gaiety. I felt delighted with the very -cordial attitude of my neighbours, who spoke French, as far as their -acquaintance with our language permitted, so as to enable me to join in -their conversation and follow what they said as far as possible. - -Notwithstanding the fog that surrounded us it was still daylight at 11 -p.m. After having partaken on the bridge of the traditional Swedish -punch, we all retired for the night. - -The next morning, May 21st, as the fog had not lifted, the captain gave -the order to leave the fjords and continue the voyage in the open sea. -Slowly we quitted our haven, the last narrow creek was cleared, and we -were soon scudding northwards at full speed, some miles from the shore. - -On May 22nd we returned to the route through the fjords, which were now -free from fog. We sighted Aalesund, an important fishing port. On the -outskirts of the port we saw on the beach several large square surfaces, -of a whitish colour, symmetrically arranged in wooden frames. These we -found were quantities of salted cod being dried in the open air. This -industry constitutes one of the greatest resources of the inhabitants of -these regions, who export the fish in large quantities to all parts of -Europe. - -In the evening we proceeded on our course in company with a Norwegian -mail-boat, which saluted the _Svensksund_ several times. The passengers -cheered Andrée lustily, thus testifying their interest in the expedition. - -Next day, at one o’clock, we passed Brono, a little Norwegian port -(latitude 65° 28´). At this point the passage between the two shores is -very narrow, and much care is required to avoid striking against the -rocks, that can be seen under the water; happily we had nothing to fear -with our officers, who acted with consummate skill. - -_May 24th._—A splendid morning, but in these parts snow must have fallen -the night before, for the banks were quite covered. The vegetation was -not so advanced here as in the districts we had passed, and there were -fewer trees. - -[Illustration: DANES ISLAND SEEN BY THE MIDNIGHT SUN.] - -We crossed the limit of the Arctic circle, and the event was celebrated -by drinking champagne. In the evening the sky became overcast, and a -fine, light rain began to fall; later on, at a few hours’ journey from -Tromsö, we had some heavy falls of snow, followed by gleams of sunshine, -which reminded me of our snowstorms in France. But on entering the port -of Tromsö there was a blinding fall of snow, and the _Svensksund_ had to -grope its way in, as it was impossible to see our course. At last, at 11 -p.m., we cast anchor, and received a visit from the harbour-master, who -brought us a voluminous packet of letters, telegrams, and newspapers. -I received news from France that gave me great pleasure. This was the -last port at which we should touch, as we were then going direct to -Spitzbergen, where we should receive no communications for several weeks. - -_May 25th._—The snow-fall continues. The inhabitants of Tromsö declared -that it was a favourable omen for Andrée, and augured well for his -success, for at the time of Nansen’s visit, in 1893, a great deal of snow -fell, which was a rare occurrence at that time of the year. - -We went through the town, and much admired a number of little villas -surrounded by clusters of trees, which reminded us of the sunny slopes of -Meudon. - -The town was very lively and very busy. Ladies and young girls, most -elegantly dressed, were walking about the streets, and also fishermen, -sailors, etc. We even met a cyclist. Where shall we find the limit of the -bicycle? I was astonished to see one in a country that has no practicable -roads and very few fine days. - -Below, on the sea, were docks built on piles; a little port where about -fifty fishing boats were lying. Further out was a mail-boat arriving from -Trondhjem. - -We visited the Museum, which contains all kinds of animals and birds -belonging to the polar regions, teams of reindeer, Esquimaux huts, arms, -and fishing tackle of the most remote periods. All the houses in Tromsö -are built of wood, and one wonders what would be left of the town if a -fire should ever break out. Every year tribes of Laplanders come from the -North to exchange goods with the traders; they bring chiefly skins of -reindeer, foxes, wolves, and white bears, and many articles made of bone -and reindeer’s horns, which are always carved with representations of -polar animals. - -Later on, on July 2nd, on our return from Spitzbergen, we had the -opportunity of visiting, at a few leagues from Tromsö, an encampment of -these interesting nomads. - -The excursion was organized and directed by our friend, Lieutenant -Norselius. The party consisted of Dr. Lembke, Lieutenant Svedenborg, the -engineer, Stake, and myself. Herr Aagaard, the brother of the Consul of -Tromsö, was kind enough to accompany us. As he knew a few words of the -Lapp language, he offered to act as interpreter. Some of the crew went -with us. - -I will not dwell here on the customs of these people, as they have -already been described in several works. The Laplanders are very friendly -and peaceably inclined towards strangers. - -In our honour they collected their reindeer together, a herd of 400 to -500, which were feeding on a mountain in the distance. A chief, who -was provided with a little telescope, used it skilfully to follow the -movements of this great herd, which was driven by only two children -and a few dogs. We saw these animals on a distant slope, all collected -together, and advancing towards us like a swarm of ants in motion. A -hill hid them from us for about half an hour; they then reappeared at a -distance of a few hundred yards, in the midst of a few scattered shrubs. -The herd approached; their horns, which are very large, kept interlacing, -freeing themselves, and then becoming entangled with the shrubs which -were shaken by the compact and moving mass. It seemed like a moving -forest. A fenced enclosure is set apart for the animals. When they had to -be driven into their pen, a Laplander approached the head of the herd, -caught one of the reindeer with the aid of a lasso, which he used as -skilfully as the hunters of the Pampas, and then pulled it in, ringing a -bell. - -The effect was then most curious. The attention of the rest of the herd -was attracted to the captive which they followed at a distance, step -by step, hesitating, and advancing as if under the influence of some -peculiar fascination. The whole herd was thus enticed into the enclosure, -the outlet of which was then shut. - -[Illustration: SHIPS AMONG THE ICE.] - -The captive reindeer which led the others in was then released, and great -excitement seemed to prevail amongst all the animals. About a dozen -of them got on to a little mound in the middle of the enclosure, and -remained there the prisoners of the others who kept walking round them. -This performance lasted for more than half an hour. In the meantime some -of the Laplanders, armed with lassos, caught some of the does in order -to milk them, and the whole herd was then set at liberty. The reindeer -dispersed into the thickets, quickly climbed the mountain, and soon -disappeared from view. We bought a few trifles from these people, who are -very honest in their dealings, and at the same time very business-like. -They lose no opportunity of doing a stroke of business; they even -demanded payment if they were photographed, and if this was refused, they -tried to screen themselves from our cameras. The instantaneous process -dismayed them very much. - -After having left the camp of the Laplanders, on our return to the -seashore, our curiosity was attracted by an enormous whale, which had -been brought to the beach to be cut up. This mammal, which was not less -than 70 feet long, had been killed a few days before in the Northern -Seas. - - - - -II - -Arrival at Spitzbergen - - -_May 26th._—We were waiting in the port of Tromsö for news of the -_Virgo_, which had left Gothenburg two days after us, on May 20th. - -The day before, the _Svensksund_ had laid in a stock of provisions and -coal. On the after-deck a large cage had been made for the reception of -some sheep. We also took a great many fowls on board, so that we should -be provided with fresh meat during our stay at Spitzbergen, as a change -from tinned provisions. - -As we had not received any news of the _Virgo_, we left Tromsö at 3 p.m. -to go and meet her at an appointed place. A splendid day cheered our -hearts, and most of the inhabitants of the town came running along the -quays, and cheered the _Svensksund_ as she departed. - -The captain then had a cask hoisted on to the top of the foremast, in -which the look-out man, who had orders to give notice of any passing -vessel amongst the floating ice, took up his station. - -After this had been done, warm clothes were distributed amongst the crew. -Each received large boots, a fur hood, gloves, etc. Our sailors seemed -quite delighted with their new outfit. - -At five o’clock we arrived at the appointed place, but the _Virgo_ was -not there. We accordingly took shelter in a bay whilst waiting for her. - -The next day, May 27th, having awoke at 3 o’clock in the morning, I went -on shore with Lieutenant Svedenborg. We went hunting over the mountains, -amidst boulders of rock and deep ravines. We saw very little vegetation; -a few scattered bushes of prickly shrubs, putting forth a few miserable -shoots; a great deal of moss and grass in the damp parts surrounding -the pools formed by the melting snow. Many springs swelled the streams, -which formed numerous waterfalls on their way down to the sea. We brought -down several birds, but lost some eiders, for these birds, when wounded -and pursued, dive to reappear no more. They hide their bodies from their -foe, perishing at the bottom of the sea by entangling themselves in the -seaweed. - -The _Virgo_ joined us at 2 p.m. Her captain came on board for -instructions. At 6 o’clock we weighed anchor, and set out for -Spitzbergen. Andrée hoped that we should get there quickly, and without -hindrance. The north north-east wind which had been blowing violently for -some days, would, he thought, drive away the floes of ice from the coast -of Greenland. - -For three days we were tormented by a strong north wind, which blew a -gale. The sea was very rough. I was ill, and could eat nothing for two -days—a victim to sea-sickness. However, I got up in the evening of May -30th. The vibrations of the vessel were then imperceptible to me. I was -surprised at first, and then pleased. I seemed to be waking from a bad -dream. - -Our boat rolled terribly, with sudden movements due to its flat -shape—movements which were all the more frequent owing to the waves being -very choppy in the northern seas. I could not, in spite of myself, help -thinking of the smooth and easy motion of our transatlantic liners, where -one is quite at one’s ease. - -I was astonished, on arriving on deck, to see the mountains that fringe -Spitzbergen, and to hear that in three hours we should reach Dansk-Gatt, -a strait between Dane’s Island and the Island of Amsterdam, to the -north-west of Spitzbergen, in latitude 79° 43´. - -The _Virgo_ followed us at some distance; she too rolled a great deal. -The wind was high and cold; some blocks of ice floated here and there, -but not many. By a fortunate circumstance the Arctic Ocean was quite -free. Andrée had predicted that it would be so, and he was pleased to see -that he would lose no time this year. Nevertheless, those who had never -visited these shores were somewhat deceived; they had expected to be -encountering icebergs, and meeting with unheard-of difficulties. In fact -they looked for something very different to ordinary voyages, something -which would keep constantly before their minds the fact that they were in -the Frozen Ocean. - -Our wishes were soon granted; the prevailing north-east wind had driven -the ice floes into the open sea; the ice round the coast, being sheltered -by the mountains, remained, and the entrance to the Dansk-Gatt was quite -blocked up. - -We had to slacken our speed; the vessels could only cut a passage -through, pushing before them blocks of scattered ice driven one against -another, and breaking with a loud report, terrifying the various polar -birds and disturbing the siesta of various seals, which quickly dive and -disappear behind other floes. - -I took some photographs, the success of which was doubtful, as it snowed -fast. Fortunately we were quite close to Virgo Bay, and after an hour of -slow, winding, and difficult progress, going round large masses of ice -that could not be driven aside, we perceived the balloon shed; it was -still standing! To the right was Pike House half-hidden by snow. - -We each provided ourselves with a telescope or field-glass. The shed -especially occupied our attention; it had suffered some damage, we -noticed an alteration in it, but at that distance it was impossible to -ascertain the extent of the injury. - -As we slowly approached the coast, we took soundings every minute, and -at last, at 6 p.m., the captain gave the order to stop. The anchors were -cast, as we should probably remain there some time; only about a hundred -yards separated us from the shore. - -[Illustration: THE BALLOON CASE IN THE ICE.] - -The _Virgo_, which should have followed us closely in order to profit -by the passage made by the _Svensksund_, remained some distance behind; -she seemed to be impeded by the ice and advanced very slowly. She pushed -along for another hour before casting her anchor. Less fortunate than we -were, her screw, which had neither the flexibility nor the resistance of -ours, had been sorely damaged by the ice. - -The various emotions produced by this eventful voyage and the keen air of -Spitzbergen had sharpened all our appetites. Lieutenant Celsing ordered -us a grand dinner, washed down with good wine and champagne, to celebrate -our arrival at Dane’s Island. I own that, for my part, I did justice to -it, after having been so severely tried by the sea. - -After dinner we went on shore. Our boat found a passage through the ice -after much groping and winding; we at last reached the shore, which was -edged with ice covered by a layer of snow, in which we sank half-way -up to our knees. After a rapid glance at Pike House, which we found -in good condition, we directed our steps towards the balloon shed -which interested us more. The poor shed, the base of which had partly -disappeared under the snow, had suffered greatly; it had been wrenched -round and seemed to lean towards the east. Last year the boarding of the -second floor had been left to strengthen it; several of these planks -had been broken or torn away by the wind, some had been carried to some -distance—we could see ends sticking up here and there in the snow. - -On the western side we discovered a split in a beam where it joined the -framework. It was this accident that had caused the wrenching of the -roof-timbers and occasioned the greater part of the damage. However, this -damage could be repaired, and Andrée, after his examination, expressed -great satisfaction with the work of Svedberg, the builder of this frail -edifice, which was not intended to withstand a winter, and must have -resisted great stress of wind and weather. It is true that last year, -before leaving Spitzbergen, Andrée had strengthened the shed as much as -his resources and the materials at his disposal allowed, as has been seen -by the foregoing account. - - - - -III - -Preparations at Dane’s Island - - -_May 31st._—The day after we arrived every one set to work. - -We first turned our attention to carpentering; with the aid of pulleys -and screw-jacks we succeeded in restoring to a certain extent the beams -of wood to the positions they had normally occupied, and they were then -fixed by steel guys. - -A detachment of sailors cleared away the snow, which in the shed was over -six feet deep. This work was rendered long and tedious by a thick layer -of ice under the snow, which had to be broken with the ice-pick; the snow -was taken away in sledges. - -There was a great deal to do, but our workmen were skilful and were -directed by experienced masters. Andrée did not leave the scene of -operations all day, and watched every detail attentively; in the evening -he was happy to inform us that the damage would be more easily repaired -than he had at first thought, and that in a fortnight the shed would be -ready to receive the balloon. - -_June 1st._—The work was resumed and carried on diligently. - -While the carpenters were busy repairing the shed, detachments of sailors -proceeded to unload the materials contained in each vessel. This last -operation was greatly hindered by the floating ice, which, under the -action of the wind, was continually changing its position, and sometimes -threatened to crush our little boats, which had to be hoisted on deck -when we were not using them. Then the wind, which had been north-east, -veered round to the east; it drove the ice in another direction, and -seemed to be trying to send it out of our way. Every now and then came -gusts of snow, but these did not stop the work. - -The temperature varied from 30 Fahr. to 35·6; that of the sea-water was -28·4 Fahr.; the wind alone seemed to cut our faces. - -[Illustration: LANDING THE CAR.] - -Not being able to take part in the work that was going on, I passed my -time as best I could. Pike House, the description of which has already -been given, was a curiosity which attracted my attention. I read the -visitors’ names inscribed on its walls; amongst them I was pleased to -find my uncle’s signature, and I yielded to the temptation of adding my -own. - -I spent the morning in transforming one of the rooms into a photographic -laboratory. - -The carrier pigeons of the expedition were placed in the attic which they -had occupied last year. - -Behind Pike House, buried under the snow, were the remains of the gas -apparatus. After clearing away the snow we found that the parts had not -suffered much, and that they could be used with the apparatus we had -brought. - -That evening, accompanied by Strindberg, Fraenkel, and Svedenborg, we -set out on an excursion over the snow and ice, along the east coast. We -went as far as the little Albert Island, which was still united to Dane’s -Island by ice. Strindberg, who is a very good shot, succeeded in killing -a seal, which we could not take with us for want of a boat; he returned -to the _Svensksund_ for a boat, but the distance was great, and the dead -seal soon sank. - -On returning to the vessel, we saw a fine silver fox, which was sniffing -along our tracks. He was out of the reach of our bullets, and, as soon -as he saw us, he ran off, greatly terrified by such unexpected visitors. -He stopped from time to time to turn round and make sure that he had not -been the victim of an illusion, and then went on his way more swiftly -still, and escaped to the mountains. - -On our return to Virgo Bay, it was difficult to reach the _Svensksund_; -the wind, which had gone round to the north a little while before, -had brought a good deal of ice. There were no longer any passages -sufficiently wide to allow a boat to be steered through them; we stepped -on to one mass of ice, and, by jumping from one to the other, we were -able to regain the vessel. - -_June 2nd._—The wind had changed again from north to east. The bay had -become cleared of a great portion of the ice with which it was filled a -few hours before. - -A little steam launch brought by the _Svensksund_ was then able to render -useful service. The unloading went on more quickly; we hastened on that -of the _Virgo_ especially, as she was to leave us directly afterwards, -carrying news of us to our friends. - -Strindberg was engaged in some photographic studies of the snow and ice; -I spent part of the day with him developing the plates. - -_June 3rd._—The sky was very clear at two o’clock in the morning; there -was not a cloud upon the horizon, and there was nothing to warn us that a -few hours later a strong north wind would bring us violent squalls laden -with snow, and at the same time bring back the ice that had been driven -away from us. This bad weather somewhat hindered the work during the -morning. After breakfast there was a little interlude at the expense of -a seal which had gone to sleep on a block of ice. It was more than 200 -yards from the ship, happily for itself, for ten guns or carbines were -levelled at it from the deck, and at the word of command from the captain -a volley saluted the new-comer, who immediately disappeared, having no -doubt formed a bad opinion of the human race. - -In the evening the captain and the first lieutenant of the _Virgo_ came -to dine with us. At this meal some bread was eaten called “French -bread,” supplied to the expedition by M. Schumacher, a Stockholm baker; -a large quantity of it was taken on board. This bread, sealed up -hermetically in light boxes of tinned copper, was in a perfect state of -preservation, although then a month old. - -_June 4th._—During the night we experienced a violent north-east wind, -which drove the ice into our bay, quite stopping the unloading of large -packages. By means of planks a road was formed on the ice, and all the -light packages were carried on the men’s backs. - -This violent wind, however, rendered us real service, and did a great -deal towards the repairing of the shed; it quite restored to their places -the roof-timbers, and they were soon fixed in their places by guys, and -at the same time the planks were replaced so as to increase the solidity -of the structure. - -_June 5th._—The weather was very fine; the thermometer showed 37·4 Fahr. - -[Illustration: VIEW OF THE APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING HYDROGEN GAS FOR THE -BALLOON.] - -Strindberg made the ascent of a neighbouring hill situated to the -west of the place occupied by our ship. At the summit, 656 feet above -the sea-level, he fixed a mast, on which was placed an apparatus for -observing the direction of the wind. This ingenious instrument consists -of a vane carrying with it in its movements a horizontal disc divided -into eight equal sectors. On the outer circumference, at the points of -division, are fixed vertically the figures from 1 to 8, cut into plates -of copper. The diameter 1-5 falls in the vertical plane of the vane, -and figure 5 always faces the wind. It is easy by means of a compass to -determine the direction from any point from which we can read the figures -of the disc. It is sufficient to observe the angle that is made with the -magnetic meridian by the visual radius, going to the number facing you, -and to deduce from it by a very simple calculation the angle of the line -1-5, _i.e._, the angle of the direction of the wind with the north. For -instance, supposing we are to the east of the post of observation, and -number 3 is facing us, number 5, which always faces the wind, will be at -the north, the point from which the wind comes. Every day the explorers, -by turns, every four hours, made meteorological observations. All the -instruments were examined, and the results carefully noted. Strindberg -set up a tent on the shore, where he spent several hours a day taking -magnetic observations. - -Work was suspended during June 6th and 7th for the Whitsuntide holidays. - -Every one sought for some amusement to pass the time; some of the sailors -found one, which was somewhat rough. They ascended a hill covered with -snow situated behind the shed; on arriving at the summit they slid down, -toboggan fashion, from a height of 656 feet, each trying to make a record -speed. This game was not without its comic side; often one of the men -lost his position, rolling over and over to the bottom; fortunately in -the snow there was no danger. - -On June 8th all the little colony went back to work; the weather was -fine, with a north wind that piled up the ice round the ships. The -greater number of light packages were, however, unloaded, but there was -still heavy luggage which could not be moved. - -On June 9th one of the gas generators was taken off, a large wooden -tank lined with lead, which had to be handled with care, its own weight -rendering it fragile. After it had been let down into a boat, a passage -was with difficulty cut for it through the ice to the shore. - -The next day other parts of the gas apparatus, no less bulky, were taken -off the _Virgo_; the difficulties attending their unloading were still -greater than before. Armed with ice-picks, some of the sailors tried to -break up the smaller pieces; others, provided with saws made specially -for the purpose, attacked enormous masses. The boat advanced very slowly, -but this extra work involved an expenditure of precious time. - -At last by the evening of that day all the parts of the gas apparatus -were landed. The engineer, Stake, assisted by the mechanics, proceeded -to fix it up. Before this could be done, it was necessary to clear away -an enormous quantity of snow which occupied the space allotted to this -installation, and which, when swept in a circle round it, formed a -regular enclosure, a temporary fortification. - -_June 11th._—Strindberg and Fraenkel turned their attention to the -carrier pigeons, and, with the aid of india-rubber wafers, fixed -to the wing and tail feathers several labels bearing the following -inscriptions:— - - “ANDRÉE.” - - _Aftonbladet._ - - “STOCKHOLM.” - -The pigeons, moreover, were numbered consecutively; their destination was -the office of the _Aftonbladet_, and they came from a dove-cot situated -at Maréchamm, belonging to M. Uno Godenhejlm, formerly a post-master. - -I gave myself up on this day to the study of a sport which is quite -Scandinavian, the “ski” (snow-shoes); Strindberg kindly gave me both -theoretical and practical lessons. After many tumbles on snowy slopes, -my course of instruction was completed; I only needed practice. This -agreeable mode of locomotion is very useful for making long journeys over -the snow. - -[Illustration: PLACING A GENERATOR.] - -I employed part of the day in making a fox-trap, consisting simply of a -box closed on one side by a metal grating, and on the other by a sliding -door. This latter would close automatically when the animal touched it, a -bird fastened to the bottom of the cage serving as a bait. In the evening -I tried the sledges which were to be taken in the balloon. I harnessed -myself to one of them, and took my trap half a league away to the hills, -where I set it so as to be able to observe it from the _Svensksund_, -whence I could see by means of a telescope when the door of the cage was -shut. - -I had not long to wait; the next morning the cage was closed. I went up -to the mountain, and soon perceived through the grating of the cage a -cunning little head and two bright eyes, which were attentively watching -all my movements. - -The prisoner was a young fox; there were several species of them at -Spitzbergen. We had already seen three kinds: one was a fine glossy -black, another silvery white, and a third had yellow and brown spots. The -little captive belonged to this last category. Seeing himself discovered, -my fox darted against the grating, growling at my approach and showing -his pretty little sharp teeth. With many precautions, putting my hands -through the bars of the cage, I succeeded in muzzling him and in tying -his paws together with cords. Having thus made it impossible for him to -do any harm, I led him over the snow to Pike House, where my arrival with -my prisoner at the end of a long string excited much curiosity and caused -considerable mirth. - -I hoped to take this young fox back to France. He was put in a cage, -where he received many visits from persons interested; one of the latter -not having closed the door with sufficient care, the Spitzbergen fox, -in no way inferior to those of our own country in point of cunning, -succeeded in opening it and recovered his liberty. He was even seen to -pause ironically for a few moments in front of the balloon shed, where -the changes that had been made seemed to interest him. - - - - -IV - -The Landing and Preparation of the Balloon—The Inflation - - -_June 12th._—Two weeks had elapsed since our arrival at Dane’s Island. -The work connected with the shed had been pressed forward, and as Andrée -had announced, the shed was ready to receive the balloon. A large -canvas tent, made in eight equal sections, was fixed over its entire -circumference half-way up the shed; it was drawn up in the centre by -the aid of pulleys connected with the top of the building. We were thus -comfortably sheltered from snow or rain whilst getting the balloon ready. - -The unloading of the _Virgo_ was finished, and the ship was ready to -start as soon as the ice should disperse. We went on board to drink -coffee and take a parting glass of punch. - -_June 13th._—On Sunday we had arranged to take a trip with the steam -launch, but it was impossible to leave our prison; the north wind, which -had blown with more violence during the last few days, had brought -us enormous blocks of ice, detached from the ice-field and from the -glaciers. Strindberg and I took several photographs of the floating ice, -which occupied our whole day. - -The _Virgo_ still a prisoner. - -_June 14th._—We could not wait any longer and lose the advantage of our -hard work; the case containing the balloon had to be landed. - -This enormous package, weighing no less than 4,409 lbs., was pretty -easily let down from the ship on to a boat; the great difficulty was to -get it on land, although the distance to be traversed scarcely exceeded a -hundred and twenty yards. - -The streams left between the ice were too narrow, and sometimes they were -even completely blocked up. - -Lieutenant Norselius, at the head of a band of picked men, directed -the operations. The picks and saws did their work, widening the narrow -streams into which the boat was pushed along the cleared space, until a -fresh obstacle was encountered. It was a real wall of ice with which -we had to deal now; ice-picks and saws were powerless to open a path. -Lieutenant Norselius thought of an ingenious plan, which he at once put -into execution. With the aid of a dynamite cartridge carefully laid, he -succeeded in breaking into small pieces this portion of the ice-field; it -was then easy to part the pieces of ice, and the boat slowly advanced, -but the surrounding pieces, which had been held back by the larger mass, -drew together, and the boat was caught between them and then lifted up; -the case leant over on one side and threatened to fall over. Some of the -sailors hung on to the other side, trying to restore its equilibrium, -whilst others pulled or pushed the boat, which was still blocked up. The -case was tied with cables, one end of which was connected with the ship -and the other with the shore, then the whole party harnessed themselves -to a third rope, trying by their united efforts to start the boat. At -last we felt it move; it was a moment of anxiety for us all; then it -glided unchecked over the ice into an open space, once more narrowly -escaping being capsized with its burden. Happily some of the sailors -had time to hang on to the end of a long pole laid across the top of the -case, and with the help of the cables, equilibrium was preserved. - -Our fears then dispersed, all serious obstacles were surmounted, and the -rest of the work was easy. A few more hours of toil and patience, and -after a whole day’s labour the balloon was at length landed. - -Every one was glad to see her in safety after the dangers she has passed -through. Andrée warmly thanked Lieutenant Norselius for the zeal and -skill he had displayed in this difficult operation. - -_June 15th._—The balloon case, which had been left on the bank on the -previous evening, had now to be conveyed to the shed erected a few yards -higher up. The first part of the distance was soon covered, as the case -is dragged over greased timbers laid down in the snow; the remainder of -the journey was rendered difficult by the huge stones by which the route -is obstructed. These difficulties, however, were as nothing compared -with those of last night, and the case was soon got below the shed, and -afterwards hoisted on to the flooring. - -[Illustration: THE GAS APPARATUS.] - -A few hours later the balloon was stretched and the folds spread out. -It was in perfect condition; the apertures were closed up with discs -consisting of wood, or with false valves; it was then partially inflated -with air with a very simple inflator designed by Andrée, but the process -was a very lengthy one, as the inflator was very feeble. - -_June 16th._—I spent the day inside the balloon, where, with the help of -ten seamen, I put another coat of varnish on the seams. - -The _Virgo_, which has been waiting four days in her prison of ice, can -at last start to-day; in fact, her time is up, for she must be at Tromsö -before the 20th of June, otherwise Andrée will have to pay a heavy fine -for every day’s delay. - -It took two days to re-varnish the seams. On the 18th of June all the air -in the balloon was let out so as to prepare for the inflation by gas; the -net is again placed over it, and the valves inserted. The inflating tubes -are brought under the floor of the shed and connected with the nozzle -through an opening made in the centre of the floor. The inflation by gas -began at seven on the morning of the 19th of June. - -Stake, the engineer, is superintending the manufacture of the hydrogen. -It is produced by the action of sulphuric acid diluted with water on -iron. The acid, the strength of which is 60°, is brought in iron drums, -each containing 220 lbs. We have 176,369 lbs. of it, and 66,138 lbs. -would suffice to inflate the balloon. - -The gas apparatus was constructed at Stockholm from well-known designs. -The acid is raised, by means of a hand pump, into a mixing tank “C,” made -to hold 2,817 pints, and meanwhile water is introduced which reduces the -contents to a solution representing about 16°. - -The acidulated compound passes thence into two lead-lined generators “G,” -containing the iron, which is dropped in as required through a hopper -placed half-way up, and closed with a hydraulic joint. The iron shavings -put into the outside part of this hopper are pushed down, thus forcing -the shavings in the inner part into the generator. Each generator is -closed by a lid with a hydraulic joint. The apparatus is freed from the -mud deposited at the bottom by means of a self-closing cock. - -The hydrogen produced by this reaction passes into a purifier “L,” filled -with coke, and provided with a tapering grate; through this grate the -gas makes its way into the washing compartment, and passes through the -column of coke in which is circulating the water that falls from the rose -attached to the top. - -[Illustration: SKETCH OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HYDROGEN GAS-PRODUCING -APPARATUS.] - -The overflow runs away through a pipe at “U” at the bottom of the -apparatus. A steam-pump feeds the purifier and the mixing tank with -sea-water, which, by the way, is quite suitable for this process. - -On leaving the purifier the hydrogen traverses a chamber “H,” from which -two tubes lead to the dryers “S”; these dryers consist of rectangular -boxes containing purifying materials and quicklime laid on a grating near -the bottom. - -Before being conveyed into the balloon the gas thus prepared passes -through two testing chambers “E,” each of which contains a thermometer, -a hygrometer, and some litmus-paper; glass sight-holes are provided to -facilitate inspection. - -Pressure gauges fixed in various positions show the pressure of the gas -current. - -This voluminous apparatus is capable of producing 5,297 to 7,000 cubic -feet of gas per hour, but Andrée will not allow the output to exceed -2,118 cubic feet per hour, his object being to secure a gas which has had -ample time for proper washing and purifying. - -_June 20th._—During the first twenty-four hours about 42,379 cubic feet -of gas were generated. - -Andrée and Fraenkel are busy to-day superintending the inflation of -the balloon; the rest are preparing for a trip northwards with the -steam-barge commanded by Lieutenant Norselius. - -[Illustration: GETTING THE BALLOON CASE ASHORE.] - -They propose reaching Red Bay, to the N.E. of Spitzbergen, near 80° -parallel. - -We left Virgo Bay at nine in the morning, and steered to the north along -the coast of Smeerenburg. As we went along the guns brought down several -birds. At one o’clock we were at Red Bay, which was one immense ice plain -reaching up to the islands at the entrance to the bay. It was on one of -these islands, not shown in any polar chart, that we landed and scared -away a flock of eiders and a fox which was lying in ambush for them. - -From our position we commanded a full view of the entire expanse of the -gulf. - -Here nature presents a wilder aspect than we have ever seen her under. -The bay opens out towards the north. - -East and west the bay is flanked with lofty mountains whose summits are -lost in the fog; wide fissures afford shelter to enormous numbers of -birds of various species, who build their nests at different altitudes. -Some perch on the sharp edges of the rock, while others describe huge -curves or shoot along after the manner of birds of prey. We noticed some -wild geese, some goelands, the “king of the algæ,” the auk, and others, -all filling the air with sharp piercing cries, deafening one with their -fiendish concert. - -About six and a half miles to the south, and forming the background to -the gulf, a gigantic glacier, indented with crevices, rises like a mighty -wall. The glacier is lit by a few rays of the sun filtering through a -curtain of fog, and reflects them in tints of blue. - -We take a long look at this great pale-looking expanse imperceptibly -gliding towards the sea, impelled by a slow and mysterious force, while -from it huge ice tracts are always breaking away and crashing down with a -roar that seems like an earthquake. - -It would be interesting to make the tour of Red Bay, but we are short of -time, and we ought to be provided with snow-shoes to carry us over the -snow which covers the ice. We saw in the snow very recent footprints of -bears, but we vainly searched the horizon with our glasses. Bruin was -invisible. - -After a frugal repast on a rock in the open air, we made ready for our -return. A cold, chilling fog settled down on the sea and enveloped us for -two hours. We were very anxious to get back on board the _Svensksund_ to -warm ourselves once more, for we had not brought any warm clothing. - -_June 21st and 22nd._—The inflation of the balloon still progressing. As -it fills we re-varnish the outside seams. - -Meantime, Andrée is preparing and fitting out the car, adjusting the -suspension ring and the rope attachments. On the other hand, Strindberg, -Fraenkel and Svedenborg are busy coating the guide-ropes with a compound -of grease and vaseline. - -To save time in the work to be done when starting, the carpenters are -demolishing the upper portion of the shed on the north side, as Andrée -thinks this useless. - - - - -V - -Amusements at Spitzbergen—Testing the Gas-Tightness of the -Balloon—Arrival of the Vessels _Express_ and _Lofoten_ - - -The inflation of the balloon was completed on the 22nd of June at -midnight. The dome can be seen above the shed; our balloon is now only -awaiting a suitable moment for launching forth into space. - -Next morning two Swedish flags float triumphantly over the shed. But -before a start can be made, many minor matters still remain to be -attended to, small details which always take up a very long time, and -to-day work was stopped at noon. In compliance with Swedish custom we -have been celebrating the eve of the feast of St. John, one of the most -important Scandinavian festivals. - -Time hangs heavily during these days of rest. Amusements are rare, and -but little varied at Spitzbergen. The sailors themselves are compelled to -forego one of their favourite sports; the snow on the mountains having -partly melted, has laid bare large sharp-edged stones, among which it -would be dangerous to practise tobogganing. However, they have found -another amusement. On the summit of a neighbouring mountain rising up -almost in a peak, which they succeed in climbing, they displace enormous -pieces of rock, and these roll down dragging with them an avalanche of -stone, accompanied by prolonged and deafening sounds which are re-echoed, -like the rolling of thunder; and thus do our sailors amuse themselves. - -We are no less limited than the sailors in our choice of amusements in -these deserted regions, far away from all that makes life seem worth -living. We are longing for our nearest and dearest; it is now a month -since we became exiles. - -Absorbed by vague thoughts, my looks mechanically tend towards the open -sea, hoping to descry a sail coming to call on us and bring us news from -home. But the horizon is bare, except that here and there a few icebergs -are floating on the waves. - -All around us, mountains, barren rocks, snow, and glaciers; no vegetation -to gladden our sight, nothing but a few varieties of moss bearing tiny -white, violet, and yellow flowers; the yellow ones, larger than the rest, -resemble very much the butter-cups, with which our meadows are dotted -in spring. The flora is excessively poor in these icy regions. What a -contrast to the luxuriant vegetation of Brazil, the rich and prolific -nature of which country I was admiring three years ago, being then -engaged on a mission on behalf of the Brazilian Military Authorities! - -[Illustration: ON THE TOP OF THE BALLOON.] - -In order to overcome the melancholy which seems to come over me to-night, -I am glad to start with Fraenkel on a boating excursion. We take some -provisions with us, and at nine o’clock we set off hap-hazard, in -glorious sunshine. We shoot some birds, chiefly eider-geese. Near the -Albert Isle, in the Smeerenburg, a group of seals, disporting themselves -on the ice, attracts our attention. It is impossible to get near them by -water; we therefore alight and drag our boat up on to the ice. But the -wary animals plunge under as soon as we approach. It is no use waiting -for them over their holes, as the seal will travel a long way under -water, in order to re-emerge some hundreds of yards away from the place -where it dives. It then proceeds to make a fresh hole; with its breath -alone, emitted and inhaled repeatedly, it can pierce masses of this ice, -measuring at least a yard in thickness. - -Not far from the place where the seals disappeared, there is an opening -free from ice; we decide, at all events, to wait some minutes on the -brink of this pond. Two of the seals appear, and are at once greeted by -us with bullets; the water is dyed red with blood over a large expanse, -but the two animals, though wounded in the head, have strength enough -left to dive under the ice, there to die. - -Baffled in this attempt, we return to our boat and continue our trip -in the Smeerenburg in a south-easterly direction; we wish to reach the -glaciers haunted by bears, but a thick fog surprises us on our way and -stops our progress. We have no compass; in order to get back and avoid -losing ourselves in the fog we are obliged to follow the coast-line, -which considerably increases the distance to be covered. Objects are -beginning to assume fantastic forms in the fog. At one part of the coast -which I know perfectly well, having roamed over it several times, a -rock of from sixteen to nineteen feet high appears to us a mountain of -respectable dimensions; further on, the ice round the coast is about -six feet above the water, and this looks to us like a colossal glacier; -then we come across some eider-geese, which animals seem to assume awful -dimensions, appearing to us about thirty-two feet high. Finally, becoming -more and more subject to these curious effects of optical illusion, -taking small blocks of ice for enormous icebergs, we imagine we can -identify a walrus in a moving mass which appears to be the size of a -small whale: we approach the animal, whose true nature we recognise when -its size still appears to be thirteen or sixteen feet—it is a small bird -of the size of a pigeon. - -After several hours of a dispiriting journey made in the damp and -penetrating cold, tossed to and fro by the waves, which have become very -rough, while the water, lashed by a contrary wind, is constantly dashing -in our faces, we arrive near Virgo Bay at the very moment when the fog -commences to clear, and with it these phantasmagoric effects gradually -disappear. - -We feel as if we had awakened from a hideous nightmare, and are glad to -see the sun once more, shedding its warm rays upon us. - -We return on board the _Svensksund_ at 6 a.m., after roaming about on the -sea for nine hours, and just at the time when all on board are waking up. - -We celebrate St. John’s day as far as we can under the circumstances; at -night a copious dinner is served, and we are much astonished at seeing -such a variety of dishes set before us, although more than a month has -elapsed since we last renewed supplies; this is a surprise reserved for -us by Lieut. Celsing, who acts as steward on board our craft. - -_June 25th._—A most pleasant awakening: a sailor puts into my hands a -parcel of letters and journals—news from France. None but they who have -had the experience of being separated from their nearest and dearest, far -from their native land, in a dull and desolate region like Spitzbergen, -can ever know the joy experienced when a chance mail unexpectedly brings -news from those one holds most dear. - -I eagerly scan the letters and journals before troubling myself about -ascertaining the name of the vessel which brought them. I then learn -that it is a little sloop, the _Express_, chartered at Tromsö by three -German tourists, Messrs. Th. Lerner, Dr. Fr. Violet, and G. Meisenbach, -who have come to Spitzbergen for a few weeks. The small steamer has been -severely tried during her passage by a storm which swept away two of her -boats; she leaves to-night for the north, for Mossel Bay, where there is -a “refuge” containing a store of provisions and boats intended for the -shipwrecked; our tourists will find boats there to replace those they -have lost. - -_June 26th._—Stake, the engineer, spent yesterday in preparing wide -strips of light material which, after being impregnated with acetate -of lead, are blackened at those parts which come in contact with the -sulphuretted hydrogen gas. - -Placed on the seams of the balloon, these strips enabled us to perceive -the slightest traces of an escape of gas. But the practical application -of this method was difficult and required some care. For getting on to -the balloon, the extremities of a horizontal cable crossing the shed -transversely were fixed to the two highest poles at the top; a pulley -supporting a double rope was passed over the cable; we placed one leg on -the loop and slid through space to the balloon. When we wished to return, -two men drew back the pulley by means of a pulley-tackle. Some sailors -found it a quicker and more satisfactory plan to descend by the meshes of -the net. - -Eight and sometimes ten of us were at work on the dome of the inflated -balloon, and we had to perform compulsory gymnastic feats in order to -support ourselves amidst the cordage of the net. - -The sailors, being accustomed to this kind of exercise, climbed about the -balloon quite at their ease; but I must confess that at first I had a -slight feeling of dizziness; this, however, soon passed off. - -It was a curious sight to see so many men on this silken envelope, which -is the only barrier to the gas. The fact is unprecedented in the history -of balloons. - -If the work that we were engaged upon was long and difficult, the result -was no less satisfactory. We found in this manner some very slight -escapes of gas, which were at once carefully stopped. - -_June 27th, Sunday._—We received a visit from a Norwegian vessel, the -_Lofoten_, commanded by Captain Sverdrup, ex-captain of the _Fram_, who -accompanied Dr. Nansen on his recent expedition to the Polar regions. - -Among the passengers on board this vessel were Mr. Stadling, one of the -members of the Andrée expedition last year, and already known to the -reader. He will remain with us henceforth, but there being no room on -board the _Svensksund_, Stadling will take up his residence at Pike House. - -The little sloop _Express_ was returning from its voyage northwards to -Mossel Bay; three steamers had met in Virgo Bay, and gave the place an -aspect of cheerfulness and animation rarely observed there. - -The _Lofoten_, which had started from Hammerfest on the 23rd of June, -brought us some letters and papers. Unhappily some of the Swedish -journals contained the sad news of the death of Baron Dickson, the -generous Mæcenas of M. Andrée, who, on the eve of our departure from -Gothenburg, invited all the members of the expedition, and was most -profuse in his words of encouragement to the bold explorers. - -We take this opportunity of testifying our respect for the great man, the -philanthropist, the _savant_, snatched away from his friends before he -had seen the achievement of the grand work with which he had associated -his name. - -Let us offer to his memory the tribute of our respectful admiration and -gratitude. - - - - -VI - -The Last Preparations—Anticipations - - -_June 28th._—The balloon had now been inflated for more than five days; -it had undergone a loss of gas which may be approximately estimated at -5,297 to 5,956 cubic feet, or a mean loss of 1,059 to 1,236 cubic feet -every twenty-four hours. When the tests which we were making, and which -were to be continued as far as the equator of the balloon, should be -concluded, it would have become still more air-tight, and the balloon -would then be in excellent condition. - -The _Lofoten_ left us this morning at six o’clock, firing off four -salutes from her guns, and with reiterated cheering. From the top of the -balloon I watched the evolutions of the graceful vessel as she described -a parabola round the _Svensksund_; her flags were raised and lowered, and -then the _Lofoten_ rapidly glided away. - -[Illustration: THE INFLATED BALLOON IN ITS SHED, THE NORTHERN PART OF -WHICH HAS BEEN REMOVED IN ORDER TO FACILITATE ITS DEPARTURE.] - -The work of looking for escapes was concluded on this day. - -The cover for protecting the balloon from snow and rain was placed over -the dome. - -Andrée has finished adjusting the hoop to the car; the systems of -pulleys, tackle, rigging attachments, etc., had all been most carefully -prepared. - -_June 29th._—The hoop was then disconnected in order to be fastened to -the rigging of the net. This operation being effected, we fixed on this -hoop, horizontally, a bamboo pole; to this mast the sails, which already -hung from the ropes, were to be fixed. A system of pulleys and tackle was -arranged to effect the various manipulations required between the car and -the hoop. - -The three guide-ropes, weighing 1,984 lbs., were stretched from the shore -to the hoop, and also eight other cables, each 76 yards long and weighing -together 881 lbs. These latter, together with the guide-ropes, serve to -prevent the balloon from coming too close to the earth, giving the effect -of throwing out ballast to the extent of 881 lbs. more than the weight -of the guide-ropes before the car could touch the ground. Under these -conditions, the balloon will always keep its centre of gravity, even -when exposed to a storm. The above-mentioned eight ropes serve another -important purpose: they can be used to lengthen the guide-ropes in case -it should be necessary to sacrifice those parts that fix into the ground -at any time during the journey. Andrée can get rid of the lower part -of the guide-ropes by a screw locked by a spring which connects this -part with the rest of the hoop; a turn given from the top of the car is -sufficient to start the spring and the screw. A second method consists of -a dynamite explosive. This last method is preferable, for, in this case, -only the part connected with the ground is lost. - -The storing of the car was almost finished. A number of articles of all -kinds were placed in it: scientific instruments, compasses, sextants, -telescopes; photographic appliances and accessories; pharmaceutical -preparations; culinary articles, lamps and electric batteries, arms, -ammunition, etc., etc.; no space but what is utilised or is set apart for -some particular purpose, and still a large space is left for a bed and -some furs. - -The provisions for the expedition were unpacked and exhibited in one of -the rooms of Pike House. As was the case last year, they consisted of -preserved foods and wines of all kinds. Dr. Lembke superintended their -storage. They were packed in labelled pockets made of strong material, -joined together and laid one over another so as to form one long bag; -thirty-six similar bags containing 1,663 lbs. of food were attached to -the top of the hoop by thirty-six suspending ropes. - -Andrée is taking enough for four months only. He thinks this is -sufficient, and that, if he should have to winter upon the ice, their -arms will give them the opportunity of laying in a fresh stock of -provisions. Pointing to his cartridges, he said, smiling, “There is some -concentrated food.” - -The various provisions left behind were carefully stored in Pike House; -there was a great deal, enough to feed a large party for a whole year. - -Twelve remaining ropes were hung with sledges, snow-shoes, a boat formed -of a wooden framework that can be taken to pieces, and covered with a -double covering of water-proofed material of the same nature as the -envelope of the balloon. This very light boat measured six yards in -length; it was a marvel of skilful construction. - -Every one was surprised to see the quantity of things that could be -stowed away in the rigging, without causing any confusion, and arranged -over the platform of the hoop, within reach. - -On the hoop itself, a number of articles were placed: picks, shovels, -hatchets, anchors, a little windlass, buoys, etc. All these articles are -of bronze or copper; the hatchets have a steel blade, set in copper. -Andrée takes with him twelve despatch buoys, each consisting of a sphere -of cork 7⅘ inches in diameter coated with a thick coat of paint, partly -blue and partly yellow, and protected by a network of copper wire. At -the bottom the buoy is weighted by a cone filled with lead, which gives -it the appearance of a top; at the upper portion is a copper stopper -inscribed with the words “Andrée’s Polar Expedition, 1896,” and a number. -This stopper closes a cavity cut in the cork to receive a tube, in which -will be enclosed documents or messages from the explorers. The buoy is -surmounted by a spiral spring of copper supporting a little Swedish flag -of thin metal. - -The buoys will be thrown out at different points of the voyage of the -balloon. A thirteenth, larger than the others, will be left at that point -of the route that shall be the nearest to the geographical pole that can -be reached by the balloon. - -_July 1st._—We then proceeded to estimate the ascending power of the -balloon. It was calculated that it could carry 3,747 lbs. of ballast, -including that part of the cordage intended to be used as ballast, and -that it could keep up for a minimum period of thirty to thirty-five -days. This period could be extended in case of need, by sacrificing the -sails and other parts that had become useless, the car if necessary, and -part of the guide-ropes, as the explorers could still take refuge on the -hoop, to which was attached all their provisions and necessaries. In this -manner nearly 1,763 lbs. of supplementary ballast could be obtained, -which would increase the length of the voyage by twenty days. - -The aeronauts could thus remain in the air for more than fifty days, -and at the same time keep their food and the necessary apparatus and -cordage. Thus their departure would take place under most promising -conditions. - -As to the point of landing, the chances seem to point most to Siberia, -which offers a very large extent of land; next in order of probability -comes Alaska, in North America. Andrée did not think that the balloon -could be drawn towards Greenland, with its gigantic glaciers attaining -to such great altitudes, as the surrounding lower strata of air cool -rapidly by contact with this boundless frozen mass, and currents would be -formed there that would radiate in all directions. Only the currents of -the upper atmosphere would approach these regions; but the Andrée balloon -always travels close to the earth, which is, moreover, another point in -favour of its longevity. We need not fear, therefore, that the explorers -will be lost in the glaciers of Greenland. - -[Illustration: THE MEMBERS OF THE EXPEDITION.] - -Variable winds may drive the balloon for several days over the ice-field -and over the ocean, before it can meet with a spot favourable to its -descent. We have already seen that it could keep up for more than fifty -days; therefore, unless any serious accident or unforeseen delay occurs, -there is every reason to hope that before this time the aeronauts will -have set foot on some hospitable ground. If, owing to some unforeseen -cause, they should be obliged to descend on the ice-field, they would -have to return in the same way as Dr. Nansen. - -He, after leaving his ship, the _Fram_, in company with Lieutenant -Johannsen, remained for fifteen months on the ice-field with only three -months’ provisions. - -Andrée took with him thirty-two carrier pigeons. We expect that some -will return to Dane’s Island, where they have stayed for more than a -month, and that they will bring us news of our friends. But we fear that -these messengers will never return to Sweden; from Spitzbergen alone, -they would have to travel a distance of nearly 1,637 miles in order to -find their dove-cot. Those set free at the Pole would therefore have to -travel more than 2,188 miles, and over the greater part of the journey -they would find neither shelter nor food. Such great distances have -never before, to my knowledge, been traversed by carrier pigeons, and, -probably, those belonging to the expedition will not leave the balloon -where they are lodged and fed, or if they do leave it, it will be to lose -themselves in the Arctic regions and there perish miserably. - -Andrée told us, therefore, not to be uneasy if we received no news of him -for a year, as he might descend at a spot from which communication with -other countries would be difficult, which would oblige him to winter with -the Lapps or Esquimaux, or in an uninhabited part, where he would be left -to his own resources, and he would then not be able to return till the -following year. - - - - -VII - -Before the Departure—Waiting for the South Wind - - -_June 30th._—Andrée called us together to discuss the methods to be -employed for starting his balloon. One great difficulty was, how to get -the balloon out of its enclosure without the silk running the risk of -being damaged by the wood of the shed. - -Every one gave his opinion, and from all the suggestions put forward, the -following conclusions were drawn:— - -(1) All projecting parts of the shed against which the balloon might be -injured should be covered with a thick pad of felt, in order to prevent -any accident to the silk. - -(2) The balloon, at its equator, should be protected by wide straps, -which should be attached to the south side of the shed, so as to prevent -it rolling against the mooring posts under the action of the wind. - -(3) The south side of the shed should be closed as high as possible, and -the highest floor should be provided with canvas to add to the height of -the shelter; the canvas should be stretched out only at the last moment. - -(4) For starting, the balloon should be held firmly to the ground by -three cables attached to the hoop. It should be allowed to ascend to -a sufficient height to allow of the car being placed in position, and -then we should only have to free the balloon from its straps and cut the -cables, in order to set it at liberty. - -Orders were then given to put into immediate execution the operations -decided upon. - -The carpenters at once proceeded to the supports of the shed and padded -all the projecting parts inside, whilst the sailors hastened to prepare -the straps and the required canvas. - -The polar balloon was soon ready to be launched into the air. Only the -final operations remained to be carried out: the south side of the -structure would have to be demolished, but this would not take long. -Andrée having already had two floors demolished, only one remained to -be removed; the ground floor, as it was not in the way, would be left to -support the structure. - -The placing of the car in position would only take a few minutes. - -For the next few days we waited for the favourable wind. - -Since our arrival at Spitzbergen, north winds had been blowing -continuously. We had had no breeze from the south worth mentioning; -the direction of the wind had always varied within the west-north-east -sector. Andrée augured favourably from this; he hoped, and was even -persuaded, that this state of affairs could not last much longer, that a -change would soon take place in the atmosphere of the Arctic regions, and -that south winds would prevail in their turn. - -These days of waiting were very dull and monotonous. Idleness made us -depressed; we sought for distractions. At meal-times, when all the -members of the large family were assembled together, cheerfulness was -restored, and, on the slightest excuse, we did not fail to give little -entertainments, sometimes original and comic, which gave us all pleasure. - -In Sweden, birthdays are always celebrated with great rejoicings, the -person interested receiving presents, congratulations, etc. July 1st was -the birthday of Dr. Lembke, a very genial and agreeable companion, on -whom we had conferred, since our arrival at Dane’s Island, the title of -“King of Spitzbergen,” on account of his corpulence and great stature. - -[Illustration: ON THE BRIDGE OF THE _SVENSKSUND_: MESSRS. FRAENKEL, -ANDRÉE, SVEDENBORG, AND STRINDBERG.] - -We were all racking our brains to think of a present to offer His -Majesty; but this was very difficult at Spitzbergen, where resources -were necessarily limited. Nevertheless, we made our preparations, and -in the morning, before our doctor was awake, each one brought his -offering. Strindberg’s was a royal crown made out of a piece of silk -gas tubing, the upper part of which he had fashioned most artistically; -Fraenkel’s, a balloon of gold-beater’s skin, inflated with hydrogen, -ornamented with long streamers of gay colours; the engineer Stake’s, -a box of handkerchiefs cut out of the bands of stuff used to test the -impermeability of the balloon; another brought some eiders’ eggs bearing -humorous inscriptions; lastly, boxes of chocolate, biscuits, bonbons, -fruit, etc., etc., and a bouquet composed of mosses and white and violet -flowers, representing all the flora of the region. - -At table, the doctor’s place was decorated with a large garland of -different mosses, on which were laid raisins, almonds, oranges, etc. - -The offering of the gifts was a very interesting little ceremony; each -gift, more or less original, was received with good-humoured hilarity. -And, in the evening, the champagne flowed merrily to emphasize our good -wishes to the “King of Spitzbergen,” whose fund of amusing and funny -stories seemed inexhaustible, but who asked to be allowed to resign his -crown in order to pass his life more cheerfully and simply amongst his -own people. - -_July 5th._—Since our arrival at Dane’s Island, after the first three or -four days we had neither rain nor snow. The temperature, which varied -very little, had always kept a few degrees above freezing point; a -pleasant warmth was felt in the sun, when we were sheltered from the wind. - -On this day, the change foretold by Andrée seemed to be coming, and for -the first time since our arrival it rained, and the wind blew from the -south-east. - -_July 6th._—The south wind at last, so long awaited, so ardently -desired! It blew a gale. The rain had ceased; heavy clouds were passing -northwards; a few hours would be sufficient to take the explorers to -their destination. - -Andrée devoted himself to meteorological observations while the first -preparations were being made. The gas apparatus was set going at once to -fill up the balloon. - -Soon everything was ready; they were only waiting for Andrée’s orders -to demolish the shed. He, absorbed by his observations, was meditating -and seemed undecided. He kept going from one instrument to another, -taking the direction of the wind from various points, comparing this -direction with that of the clouds: it seemed difficult to him to come to -a decision. The barometer had fallen too rapidly. Certainly the start -would have to be made during a barometric depression, but we expected it -to be slow and gradual. At last, after two hours’ observations, Andrée -came slowly back to us to tell us the result of his researches. In a -calm, firm voice, he said he should not start that day, because the -wind, then very favourable, would not last long. He was very vexed, but -he hoped that before long there would be other currents of air, more -stable and more favourable. Nevertheless, he said when once the 15th -of July was past, he would start on the first opportunity, even if the -atmospheric conditions were only moderately favourable; but now he feared -to compromise the success of the expedition by a premature departure. - -It will be seen that Andrée combined great prudence with his scientific -experience; moreover, his predictions proved correct. The next day, the -south wind was succeeded by a north wind, and we still waited. - -_July 9th._—Bad weather, rain and a west wind. A Norwegian sailing vessel -took refuge in our bay. It was returning from the ice-field, where the -crew had been hunting seals, and had killed more than 700. The sailors -were engaged in cutting up the animals; the skins were salted and the fat -stored in barrels to be melted down. - -_July 10th._—The bad weather continued, with cold fogs and rain. - -The _Lofoten_ visited us for the second time with more tourists. Amongst -them, I was pleased to meet some friends of our family: M. and Mme. H. -Vieillard, and two other French travellers, M. Obermeyer, editor of the -_Figaro_, and his wife. I much regretted not having time to say much -to my fellow-countrymen. The _Lofoten_ is engaged in a regular service -between Hammerfest and Advent Bay; she had little time to spare, having -extended her trip to come to Dane’s Island, and could not stop more than -an hour in Virgo Bay. - -In the evening the sky cleared, the rain ceased, and a strong wind blew -from the south-west. The barometer, which had been falling for two days, -still continued to do so slowly. We now had a chance of a wind favourable -to our expedition. - - - - -VIII - -The Departure - - -_Sunday, July 11th._—A decided south wind! Would it last this time, or -would it again prove a delusion? - -Andrée and his companions consulted for some time the various instruments -from each post of observation. The atmospheric conditions seemed -favourable. - -Together with Andrée, we went to the top of the shed to examine carefully -the work that had been done, and to arrange about the preparations for -starting. The wind was very violent. The wooden structure trembled under -our feet; I feared sometimes that it would be blown down, and the balloon -destroyed. But this apparently light structure was really very solidly -built, of which fact it had furnished excellent proofs. Moreover, it was -sheltered by a hill 329 feet high. - -After having enumerated the various operations to be performed, Andrée -returned to his observations for a few minutes. The result was -favourable. The direction of the wind seemed quite settled; but he -did not give the order to start. This time he dared not take the sole -responsibility of this decision, so he consulted his fellow-travellers. -It was a very delicate question for the members staying behind, -Svedenborg and myself, to decide; the decision rested rather with those -directly interested. Strindberg and Fraenkel wished to start at once, -and besides, what were we waiting for? Time was passing, the season was -advancing; therefore, the sooner, the better. - -Andrée did not express his opinion; it was not necessary, we guessed it. -He was burning to set out for the conquest of the Pole; and he only said, -“The departure is decided upon.” - -We returned on board the _Svensksund_, where the sailors in uniform, -and in the presence of the officers, were attending a short religious -service, after having been reviewed as usual on Sunday. - -As soon as the decision was known, Captain Ehrensvärd gave orders for the -whole crew to resume their working clothes immediately. - -[Illustration: K. FRAENKEL.] - -Two Norwegian sailing vessels, returning from the north, entered the bay, -and made ready to cast anchor opposite the shed. Signals were exchanged, -to ask them to take up a different position, so as to leave a free -passage for the Andrée balloon, which would start in a few hours. - -The workers are ready, and are being taken ashore by the boats. - -The carpenters and a detachment of sailors go quickly up into the shed, -and demolish the northern portion with surprising rapidity. - -It is 11 o’clock in the morning. Andrée is standing before the shed, -observing everything. His orders follow one another, brief and rapid; his -voice resounds, rendered still stronger by a speaking trumpet. Nothing is -heard but the crackling of the wood as it is broken away, and the wooden -beams as they come crashing to the ground. A detachment of men clear away -the rubbish as it falls. - -On the south side, at the top of the shed, sailors are stretching the -canvas between the masts, thus increasing by 13 feet the height of the -roof. - -Everywhere is feverish activity; the preparations go on rapidly. - -We now turn our attention to the balloon, which slowly rises, as the bags -of ballast are slowly let down from mesh to mesh until they stop at the -hoop. - -The wind becomes more and more violent. Puffs reach the balloon, which -sways greatly from side to side; the equatorial straps support it well, -and restrain its movements. - -The cords are then arranged which work the valves and the rending flap. -These delicate parts require constant inspection during these last -operations, in order to prevent their working badly. Stadling hangs over -the circle, on to a horizontal rope, a series of baskets in which were -the carrier pigeons. This preliminary part of the preparations being -concluded, the ballast bags are withdrawn until the balloon is properly -balanced. The hoop remains firmly held to the ground by three cables long -enough to enable it to rise sufficiently high for the car to be fixed in -position. The rest of the ballast bags are collected into three groups, -hung to the hoop by three ropes. - -The car, which, with all its contents, weighs nearly 1,102 lbs., is -brought under. It is slipped into its place, and quickly fastened to the -hoop by the six cables supporting it. - -Andrée walks round the balloon and round the shed, giving a last glance -at every detail, satisfying himself that everything is ready and in good -working order. - -The solemn hour has arrived. - -Strindberg, who has always been a great friend of mine, as we have a -mutual sympathy with one another, begs me to send his _fiancée_ proofs of -the last photographs that I shall succeed in developing, and which would -interest her. He shows great emotion while speaking to me; it is not fear -of the perils that he is about to face, but other sentiments that are -agitating him at this moment. It is easy for me to guess what they are. - -When will he see again that charming Swedish girl, whose photograph which -he has so often shown me, and carries next his heart? - -How many days, how many months, will she be anxiously waiting, and -receiving no news? - -What anxiety, what suspense, await that poor young girl? - -But what joy will follow the glorious return of her beloved! What -firm bonds of affection will bind them together after this long, hard -separation! - -Oh! how I wish them this happiness with all my heart! - -Greatly affected myself, I shake convulsively the hand of my friend, -who is leaving all that he holds dearest in the world for the glorious -accomplishment of a scientific enterprise, and with a final clasp I -promise him once again that his wish will be a sacred duty to me! - -He gives me a last letter for his _fiancée_; then, controlling the -emotion which was overcoming him, he rejoins Andrée and Fraenkel, who are -also taking leave of their friends. - -[Illustration: VIEW OF THE BALLOON TAKEN IMMEDIATELY AFTER ITS -DEPARTURE.] - -Andrée is thanking all the members of the expedition for the help they -have rendered him in his enterprise. He gives the captain several -telegrams written in haste at the last minute; one, addressed to the King -of Sweden, is worded thus:— - - “SPITZBERGEN, _July 11th_, 2.25 p.m. - - “At the moment of their departure, the members of the - expedition to the North Pole beg Your Majesty to accept their - very humble salutations, and the assurance of their deepest - gratitude. - - “ANDRÉE.” - -Another telegram, addressed to the _Aftonbladet_, Stockholm, said:— - - “In accordance with our decision previously arrived at, we - commenced on Sunday, at 10.45, the preparations for our ascent, - and at this moment, 2.30 p.m., we are ready to start. - - “We shall probably be driven in a north-north-easterly - direction. We hope gradually to reach regions where the winds - will be more favourable to us. - - “In the name of all our comrades, I send our warmest regards to - our friends, and to our country! - - “ANDRÉE.” - -The last farewells are brief and touching; few words are exchanged, but -hearty handclasps between those whose hearts are in sympathy say more -than words. - -Suddenly Andrée snatches himself away from the embraces of his friends, -and takes his place on the wicker bridge of the car, from whence he calls -in a firm voice:— - -“Strindberg,—Fraenkel,—let us go!” - -His two companions at once take their places beside him. They are all -three armed with a knife for cutting the ropes supporting the groups of -ballast bags. - -This being done, Captain Ehrensvärd and Lieutenants Norselius and Celsing -give their sailors orders which are at once put into execution. - -The equatorial straps fall at one stroke. - -The balloon, freed from this restraint, moves slightly; it quits the -state of torpor in which it seemed to be plunged; it now seems to have -come to life, and, notwithstanding its shelter, it rolls greatly on its -lower moorings, from which it tries to free itself. - -We wait a few seconds, in order to seize a moment of calm, before the -order is given to start. - -Three of the most adroit sailors, armed with knives, hold themselves in -readiness, at a given signal, to cut the three cables by which alone the -balloon is now held captive. - -The entire crew of the _Svensksund_ are present, and also the crews of -the three Norwegian whaling vessels anchored in Virgo Bay. - -There is profound silence at this minute; we only hear the whistling -of the wind through the woodwork of the shed, and the flapping of the -canvas, which hangs over the upper part of the south side. - -Amongst the cordage of the car are seen the three heroes, standing -admirably cool and calm. - -Andrée is always calm, cold, and impassible. Not a trace of emotion is -visible on his countenance; nothing but an expression of firm resolution -and an indomitable will. - -He is just the man for such an enterprise; and he is well seconded by his -two companions. - -At length the decisive moment arrives. - -“One! Two! Cut!” cries Andrée in Swedish. - -The three sailors obey the order simultaneously, and in one second the -aerial ship, free and unfettered, rises majestically into space, saluted -with our heartiest cheers. - -We rush to the doors to get out of the shed. I have the chance of getting -out first through a secret opening I have made in the woodwork, so as to -be able to rush to my photographic apparatus and have time to take a few -snapshots at this stupendous moment. - -Being encumbered with the heavy cordage that it takes with it, the -balloon does not rise to a height of 328 feet. - -It is dragged by the wind. - -Behind the mountain that is sheltering us stormy winds are raging, and a -current of air sweeps down from the summit and attacks the balloon, which -for a moment descends rapidly towards the sea. This incident, which we -had foreseen before the departure, but the natural cause of which struck -few of the spectators at the moment, produces great excitement amongst -some of us. The sailors rush to the boats to be ready to lend assistance -to the explorers, whom they expect to see engulfed in the waves. Their -alarm was of short duration; the descending movement soon becomes slower, -and the car just touches the water and ascends again immediately. - -Unfortunately, the lower parts of the guide-ropes, which were made so as -to become detached if they should be caught in the ground, have remained -on the shore. At the start the ropes were caught in some rocks on the -shore, and the screws for separating the parts worked. But Andrée is well -provided against this loss, so that this accident is not likely to have -serious consequences. - -At the edge of the water, on the beach studded with rocks and large -stones, we all stand, breathlessly watching the various phases, rapidly -following one upon another, of the commencement of this stirring and -unprecedented aerial journey. - -The balloon, which has now righted itself at about 164 feet above the -sea, is rapidly speeding away; the guide-ropes glide over the water, -making a very perceptible wake, which is visible from its starting point, -like the track made by a ship. The state of affairs seems to us on the -shore to be the best that could be hoped for. We exchange last signals of -farewell with our friends; hats and handkerchiefs are waved frantically. - -Soon we can no longer distinguish the aeronauts; but we can see that they -are arranging their sails, as these latter are displayed in succession -on their bamboo mast; then we observe a change of direction. The -balloon is now travelling straight to the north; it goes along swiftly, -notwithstanding the resistance that must be offered by the dragging -ropes; we estimate its speed at from 18 to 22 miles an hour. If it keeps -up this initial speed and the same direction, it will reach the Pole in -less than two days. - -The aerial globe seems now no bigger than an egg. On the horizon an -obstacle appears in the route; this is the continuation of a chain of -mountains about 328 feet high right in the path of the balloon, which -seems very close to the obstacle, and some of the sailors round me, who -have never before seen a balloon start on its trip, seem in great terror; -they think the balloon will be hopelessly wrecked. I reassure them, -telling them that the balloon is still far away from the hills, which -will be easily surmounted, without there even being any necessity to -throw out ballast. - -The balloon travels on, maintained at the same altitude by the -guide-ropes. In the neighbourhood of the hills there is an upward current -of air; the balloon will follow this; it would only risk striking against -the obstacle if the movement were downwards, which is not the case. -Moreover, the guide-ropes first rest upon the rocks and thus lighten the -balloon, which gradually rises. - -We see it clear the top of the hill, and stand out clearly for a few -minutes against the blue sky, and then slowly disappear from our view -behind the hill. - -Scattered along the shore, we stand motionless, with hearts full, and -anxious eyes, gazing at the silent horizon. - -For one moment then, between two hills, we perceive a grey speck over the -sea, very, very far away, and then it finally disappears. - -The way to the Pole is clear, no more obstacles to encounter; the sea, -the ice-field, and the Unknown! - -We look at one another for a moment, stupefied. Instinctively we draw -together without saying a word. There is nothing, nothing whatever in -the distance to tell us where our friends are; they are now shrouded in -mystery. - -“Farewell! Farewell! Our most fervent prayers go with you. May God help -you! Honour and glory to your names!” - - ALEXIS MACHURON. - - - - -The Last Message from Andrée - - -The following message from Andrée shows the progress made by the hardy -explorer. We reproduce it in facsimile. - -[Illustration] - -(1)—_The Andrée Polar Expedition to the “Aftonbladet” Stockholm._ - -_July 13th, 12.30 p.m., 82°2´ north latitude, 15°5´ east longitude. Good -journey eastwards, 10° south. All goes well on board. This is the third -message sent by pigeon._ - - ANDRÉE. - -Butler & Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London. - - - - -The Pupils of Peter the Great - - -A History of the Russian Court and Empire from 1697 to 1740 - -By R. NISBET BAIN - -Author of “Gustavus III. and His Contemporaries,” “Charles XII.” “Hans -Christian Andersen: A Biography” - -WITH PHOTOGRAVURE FRONTISPIECE AND PORTRAITS - -_Demy 8vo, 318 pp. Price 15s. net._ - -_OPINIONS OF THE PRESS:_ - -“LIGHT ON A LYCEUM PLAY.” - -“Mr. Nisbet Bain’s new volume about the makers of Russia could not have -appeared at a time more opportune for the attraction of popular interest -than the moment when Sir Henry Irving has taken it upon him to interpret -for us, on the stage of the Lyceum, the character of Peter the Great. His -familiarity with the history and politics of Northern Europe in the last -century renders him peculiarly fitted for the task of presenting us with -a picture of the Russian Court and Empire up to the death of the Empress -Anne.”—_Daily Chronicle._ - -“Mr. Bain has here put together from authentic sources an interesting and -useful book. Without attempting the picturesque, he has written a book -that attracts the reader; his judgment is sound, he is unprejudiced and -tolerant, and he understands the strange world that he is depicting. His -portraits have the great merit of fidelity, and he has a good knowledge -of contemporary European politics.”—_Manchester Guardian._ - -“An excellent piece of historical study, founded entirely on original -research, sober, broad, and sympathetic in treatment, with a fine sense -of historical proportion, and most illuminating as respects the light it -throws on a dark and ill-known time and country.”—_Spectator._ - -“A lucid and masterly sketch of the slow development of the modern -Russian State between the year 1697 and 1740.”—_Daily News._ - -“Mr. Nisbet Bain is, without question, the best informed student of -Northern history who now writes for the British Public, and the volume -before us will add to his reputation.”—_Manchester Courier._ - - WESTMINSTER - - Archibald Constable and Co - 2 WHITEHALL GARDENS - 1898 - - - - -ANNOUNCEMENTS - - -The Life of Sir Charles Tilston Bright - -By EDWARD BRAILSTON BRIGHT, C.E., AND CHARLES BRIGHT, C.E., F.R.S.E. - -With many Illustrations, Portraits, and Maps. 2 vols. - -_Demy 8vo, £3 3s. net. (£2 2s. net to subscribers before publication.)_ - - * * * * * - -Debateable Claims - -A Series of Essays on Secondary Education - -By JOHN CHARLES TARVER, AUTHOR OF “SOME OBSERVATIONS OF A FOSTER PARENT.” -_Crown 8vo, 6s._ - - * * * * * - -Dante’s Ten Heavens - -A Study in the Paradiso - -By EDMUND GARDNER. - -_Demy 8vo._ - - * * * * * - -A French View of English Contemporary Art - -By E. DE LA SIZERANNE. Translated by H. M. POYNTER. - -_Crown 8vo._ - - * * * * * - -Highland Dress and Ornament - -By LORD ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL. - -_Demy 8vo._ - - * * * * * - -Andrée and his Balloon - -By HENRI LACHAMBRE and ALEXIS MACHURON - -With coloured Frontispiece and 40 full-page plates. - -_Crown 8vo. 6s._ - -This volume contains an accurate account of the making and equipping of -Mr. Andrée’s balloon, and a detailed account of the first attempt made -in 1896, when, owing to the bad weather, Andrée and his two companions -could not start, and a detailed and authoritative account of the final -preparation and start for the famous flight into the Unknown. - -The volume is fully illustrated, and contains a short biography of Andrée. - -The two authors accompanied the Expedition to Spitzbergen, the one author -in 1896, and the other in July, 1897. - -The volume is of very great general interest, containing as it does -the only authoritative account of the expedition up to date, and is -of special value to all interested in ballooning, as the authors are -acknowledged experts. - -This work is being published simultaneously in four different languages. - - * * * * * - -The Kingdom of the Yellow Robe - -By ERNEST YOUNG. - -Fully Illustrated by E. A. NORBURY, R.C.A., and from Photographs. - -_Demy 8vo._ - - * * * * * - -Constable’s “Hand Gazetteer of India” - -Uniform with Constable’s “Hand Atlas of India.” - - * * * * * - -A BOOK OF - -Travels and Life in Ashantee - -By R. AUSTIN FREEMAN, F.R.G.S. - -Fully Illustrated, from drawings by the Author, and from Photographs. 2 -Maps. - -_Demy 8vo._ - - * * * * * - -A Northern Highway of the Czar - -By AUBYN TREVOR BATTYE, Author of “Ice-bound on Kolguev.” - -_Illustrated. Crown 8vo. 6s._ - -The dedication of this volume has been graciously accepted by His Majesty -the Czar of Russia. - - * * * * * - -Our Troubles in Poona and the Deccan - -By ARTHUR TRAVERS CRAWFORD, C.M.G., late Commissioner of Poona. - -_Fully Illustrated. 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Just Ready._ - -These two narratives are a unique and interesting contribution to the -literature of the Indian Mutiny—inasmuch as they are the only ones from a -purely native source. - -One is the diary, kept daily throughout the Siege of Delhi in 1857 by -Munshi Jeewan Lall. This man, who was an official in the employ of -the Governor General’s Agent in Delhi, was all along loyal to us, and -remained, till his death, an honoured servant of the British Government. -He gave the original diary to the translator on the occasion of the -Imperial Assemblage at Delhi in 1877. The other narrative is by an -educated native nobleman—Nawab Mainodin Hassan Khan. He threw in his lot -with the rebels, and had eventually to fly, with a price on his head. -After some years of exile he returned to India, stood his trial, and was -acquitted of complicity in murder, and pardoned for his share in the -fighting. This result was brought about mainly through the influence of -Sir T. Metcalfe, whose life he had saved during the Siege. The Nawab -subsequently drew up the narrative from materials in his possession, -and gave it in the original to the translator. Mr. Metcalfe having died -before the papers were ready for publication, they are now edited and -brought out by his widow. - - * * * * * - -Constable’s Hand Atlas of India - -A NEW SERIES OF SIXTY MAPS AND PLANS PREPARED FROM ORDNANCE AND OTHER -SURVEYS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF J. G. 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THE CHINAMAN ABROAD AND AT HOME (_continued_). - Gambling—Typhoons—The floating population of - Hong-kong—North branch of the Pearl River. - - ” IV. CANTON AND KWANG-TUNG PROVINCE. - Tea—Foreign Hongs and Houses—Schroffing. - - ” V. CANTON (_continued_). - Its general appearance—Its population—Streets—Mode of - transacting business—Signboards—Work and Wages—The - willow-pattern bridge—Juilin, Governor-General - of the two Kwang—Clan fights—Hak-kas—The mystic - pills—Dwellings of the poor—The Lohang-tang—Buddhist - monastic life—On board a junk. - - ” VI. CANTON (_continued_). MACAO. SWATOW. CHAO-CHOW-FU—AMOY. - The charitable institutions of - China—Macao—Description of the - town—Its inhabitants—Swatow—Foreign - settlement—Chao-chow-fu—Swatow - fan-painters—Modellers—Chinese art—Village - warfare—Amoy—The native quarter—Abodes of the - poor—Infanticide—Manure-pits—Human remains in - jars—Lekin—Romantic scenery—Ku-lang-su—The foreign - settlement. - - ” VII. FORMOSA. - Takow harbour, Formosa—La-mah-kai—Difficulties - of navigation—Tai-wan-fu—The Taotai—His - yamen—How to cancel a state debt—The Dutch in - 1661—Sylvan lanes—Medical Missions—A journey to - the interior—Old watercourses—Broken land—Hak-ka - settlers—Poahbe—Pepohoan village—Baksa - valley—The name ”Isla Formosa“—A long march—The - central mountains—Bamboo Bridges—”Pau-ah-liau“ - village—The physician at work—Ka-san-po village—A - wine-feast—interior of a hut—Pepohoan dwellings—A - savage dance—Savage hunting-grounds—La-lung - village—Return journey. - - ” VIII. FOOCHOW AND THE RIVER MIN. - The Japanese in Formosa—Cause of the invasion—The - River Min—Foochow Arsenal—Chinese gunboats—Foochow - city and great bridge—A City of the dead—Its - inhabitants—Beggars—Thieves—Lepers—Ku-shan - Monastery—The hermit—Tea plantation on Paeling - hills—Voyage up the Min—Shui-kow—An up-country - farm—Captain Sheng and his spouse—Yen-ping - city—Sacrificing to the dead—Shooting the Yen-ping - rapids—A Native passenger-boat. - - ” IX. SHANGHAI. NINPO. HANKOW. THE YANGTSZE. - Steam traffic in the China Sea—In the wake - of a typhoon—Shanghai—Notes of its early - history—Japanese raids—Shanghai foreign - settlement—Paul Sü, or ”Su-kwang-ki“—Shanghai - city—Ningpo—Native soldiers—Snowy valley—The - Mountains—Azaleas—The monastery of the Snowy - Crevice—The thousand-fathom precipice—Buddhist - Monks—The Yangtsze, Kiang—Hankow—The Upper Yangtsze, - Ichang—The Gorges—The great Tsing-tan rapid—Mystic - fountain lights—A dangerous disaster—Kwei-fu—Our - return—Kiukiang—Nanking; its arsenal—The death of - Tsing-kwo-fan—Chinese superstition. - - ” X. CHEFOO. PEKIN. TIENTSIN. THE GREAT WALL. - The foreign settlement—The Yellow River—Silk—Its - production—Taku forts—The Peiho River—Chinese - progress—Floods in Pei-chil-li—Their - effects—Tientsin—The Sisters’ chapel—Condition of - the people—A midnight storm—Tung-Chow—Peking—The - Tartar and Chinese divisions of the metropolis—Its - roads, shops and people—The foreign hotel—Temple - and domestic architecture—The Tsungli - Yamen—Prince Kung and the high officers of the - empire—Literary championship—The Confucian - Temple—The Observatory—Ancient Chinese - instruments—Yang’s house—Habits of the ladies—Peking - enamelling—Yuen-Ming-Yuen—Remarkable cenotaph—A - Chinese army—Li-Hung-Chang—The inn of ”Patriotic - Perfection“—The Great Wall—The Ming tombs. - - * * * * * - -Problems of the Far East - -JAPAN—COREA—CHINA - -By the RT. HON. GEORGE N. 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The reprint is in three small and compact volumes, and should -be welcome to students of history as giving an important work in a -convenient form.”—_Scotsman._ - -“One of the monuments of English historical scholarship that needs no -commendation.”—_Manchester Guardian._ - - - - -POETRY - - -Selected Poems - -By GEORGE MEREDITH - -_Crown 8vo. 6s._ - -“A volume which abounds in imaginative vision as well as intellectual -strength.”—_Standard._ - -“His poems are achievements of the intellect ... there is wit in them and -genius.”—_Scotsman._ - -“We hope that a large public will wake up to the high and serious -beauties and the real genius of Mr. Meredith’s finest poetry.”—_St. -James’s Gazette._ - -“These Selected Poems are a literary store.”—_Scotsman._ - - * * * * * - -Songs of Love and Empire - -By E. NESBIT - -_Now Ready. 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Can highly recommend it to our readers.”—_The -Irish Cyclist._ - -“The most useful pocket book for cyclists we have yet seen.”—_Westminster -Gazette._ - -“Should be read and digested by all riders ... very useful, a valuable -handbook, and one long wanted.”—_Land and Water._ - -“Cyclists will pronounce it to be in its way a gem ... appears complete -in every respect.”—_Scotsman._ - -“A wonderfully compact and handy volume—a mass of useful information ... -quite a novelty.“—_Daily Mail._ - -“Neatly arranged ... a handy little volume.”—_The Field._ - -“The telegraphic code ... a very valuable feature.”—_England._ - - * * * * * - -The Art and Pastime of Cycling - -By R. J. MECREDY AND A. J. WILSON - -With Numerous Illustrations. _Paper, 1s.; cloth, 1s. 6d._ - -“A very useful and well-compiled guide to cycling.”—_Wheeling._ - -“The treatise is written in simple language, and its directions are -clearly expressed.”—_Sporting Life._ - -“Will be of great value both to beginners and devotees of the -wheel.”—_Whitehall Review._ - - * * * * * - -“The Game of Polo” - -By T. F. DALE (_“Stoneclink” of “The Field”_) - -Fully Illustrated - -_Demy 8vo One Guinea net_ - -“A handsome volume.... The author, ‘Stoneclink,’ of _The Field_, is one -of the recognised authorities of the sport, and what he does not know -about it is not knowledge.”—_Pall Mall Gazette._ - -“A book which is likely to rank as the standard work on the -subject.”—_Morning Post._ - -“The author writes in a pleasant, spirited style, and may be taken as an -admirable guide. A really charming addition to the library of those who -are devoted to the game.”—_The Globe._ - - * * * * * - -[Illustration] - -New Popular Edition - -OF THE - -Works of George Meredith - -_Crown 8vo_, 6/- each - -With Frontispieces by BERNARD PARTRIDGE, HARRISON MILLER and Others. - - The Ordeal of Richard Feverel [_Ready._ - Rhoda Fleming [_Ready._ - Sandra Belloni [_Ready._ - Vittoria [_Ready._ - Diana of the Crossways [_Ready._ - The Egoist [_Just Ready._ - Evan Harrington - The Adventures of Harry Richmond - Beauchamp’s Career - One of Our Conquerors - Lord Ormont and His Aminta - The Amazing Marriage - The Shaving of Shagpat - The Tragic Comedians - Short Stories - Poems - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Andrée and his Balloon, by -Henri Lachambre and Alexis Machuron - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANDRÉE AND HIS BALLOON *** - -***** This file should be named 63603-0.txt or 63603-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/3/6/0/63603/ - -Produced by Peter Becker and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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