The world is mad." Mr.Sorlle's hospitality had no bounds.

He would scarcely let us wait to remove our freezing boots before he took us into his house and gave us seats in a warm and comfortable room.

We were in no condition to sit in anybody's house until we had washed and got into clean clothes, but the kindness of the station-manager was proof even against the unpleasantness of being in a room with us.

He gave us coffee and cakes in the Norwegian fashion, and then showed us upstairs to the bathroom, where we shed our rags and scrubbed ourselves luxuriously.
Mr.Sorlle's kindness did not end with his personal care for the three wayfarers who had come to his door.

While we were washing he gave orders for one of the whaling-vessels to be prepared at once in order that it might leave that night for the other side of the island and pick up the three men there.