Erik, very much occupied with his business as lieutenant, spent every spare moment in reading.

On the eleventh they passed the island of Oland, on the thirteenth they reached Shayer Rock, passed through the sound, signaled Heligoland on the fourteenth, and on the sixteenth they doubled Cape Hogue.

On the following night Erik was sleeping in his cabin when he was awakened by a sudden silence, and perceived that he no longer felt the vibrations of the engine.  He was not however alarmed, for he knew that Mr. Kjellguist was in charge of the vessel; but out of curiosity he arose and went on deck to see what had happened.

He was told by the chief engineer that the engine had broken down, and that they would be compelled to extinguish the fires.  They could proceed, however, under sail, with alight breeze from the south-west.

A careful inspection threw no light on the cause of the damage, and the engineer asked permission to repair to the nearest port to repair the injury.

Commander Marsilas, after a personal examination, was of the same opinion.  They found that they were thirty miles from Brest, and the order was given to steer for the great French port.

CHAPTER XIII.

The shipwreck.

The next day the “Alaska” entered the harbor of Brest.  The damage which she had sustained was fortunately not important.  An engineer who was applied to immediately promised that her injuries should be repaired in three days.  It was therefore not a very serious delay, and they could make up for it in a measure by taking in coal.  They would therefore not be obliged to stop at Gibraltar for this purpose, as they had at first intended.  Their next stopping-place was to be at Malta, which they hoped to reach twenty-four hours earlier than they had at first expected, and thus would reduce the time of their delay in reality to two days.  They therefore had nothing to worry themselves about, and everyone felt disposed to view the accident in the most philosophical manner.

It soon became evident that their mischance was going to be turned into a festival.  In a few hours the arrival of the “Alaska” became known through the town, and as the newspapers made known the object of the expedition, the commander of the Swedish vessel soon found himself the recipient of the most flattering attentions.  The admiral and Mayor of Brest, the commander of the port, and the captains of the vessels which were lying at anchor, all came to pay an official visit to Captain Marsilas.  A dinner and a ball were tendered to the hardy explorers, who were to take part in the search for the “Nordenskiold.”  Although the doctor and Mr. Malarius cared little for such gatherings, they were obliged to take their places at the table which was prepared for them.  As for Mr. Bredejord, he was in his true element.

Among the friends invited by the admiral, was a grand-looking old man with a refined but sad countenance.  He soon attracted Erik’s attention, who felt a sympathy for him which he could hardly explain.  It was Mr. Durrien, Honorary Consul-general, and an active member of the Geographical Society, who was well known on account of his travels and researches in Asia Minor and the Soudan.