Far to the west of us, however, were icepacks, and still farther to the westward the ice appeared like ranges of low hills.

In front of us, and directly to the north, lay an open sea.( 4) (4 Captain Kane, on page 299, quoting from Morton's Journal on Monday, the 26th of December, says: "As far as I could see, the open passages were fifteen miles or more wide, with sometimes mashed ice separating them.

But it is all small ice, and I think it either drives out to the open space to the north or rots and sinks, as I could see none ahead to the north.") My father was an ardent believer in Odin and Thor, and had frequently told me they were gods who came from far beyond the "North Wind." There was a tradition, my father explained, that still farther northward was a land more beautiful than any that mortal man had ever known, and that it was inhabited by the "Chosen."(5) (5 We find the following in "Deutsche Mythologie," page 778, from the pen of Jakob Grimm; "Then, the sons of Bor built in the middle of the universe the city called Asgard, where dwell the gods and their kindred, and from that abode work out so many wondrous things both on the earth and in the heavens above it.

There is in that city a place called Illidskjalf, and when Odin is seated there upon his lofty throne he sees over the whole world and discerns all the actions of men.") My youthful imagination was fired by the ardor, zeal and religious fervor of my good father, and I exclaimed: "Why not sail to this goodly land?
The sky is fair, the wind favorable and the sea open." Even now I can see the expression of pleasurable surprise on his countenance as he turned toward me and asked: "My son, are you willing to go with me and explore--to go far beyond where man has ever ventured ?" I answered affirmatively.

"Very well," he replied.