their lives in the interest of science, and that in this peaceful,
homelike way the greatest voyage of the century was being made.

It will interest you to know that Nansen used every available modern
invention to help make his voyage successful and bearable.

In the Arctic regions there are long months when there is no day. The
sun disappears beneath the horizon, and does not appear again for weeks.
There is no day and no sunshine, only one long night.

This time is the most trying period for Arctic travellers, and many
poor fellows have gone insane under the terrible oppression of the
months of darkness.

When this time came, and the sun had bidden its good-by to the _Fram_,
Nansen lighted his ship by means of electricity, generated from power
obtained from a windmill. When the wind failed the crew manned a
capstan, an apparatus used for hauling anchors on board ship, and which
Nansen applied to this excellent use.

With light to work by, plenty of work to do, and books and games for the
evenings, one would have thought the men were well supplied, but Nansen
added yet one more pleasure to their store. A friend had made the
expedition a present of a phonograph. Nansen had his faithful wife sing
into it all the favorite songs of the day, and so the sailors had one
more comfort for their peaceful evenings, in the singing of well-known
ballads by a well-loved voice.

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