comprehensive look that did not need to be repeated.  Then they ran from us as fast as their legs would carry them.  We reached the outskirts of the station and passed through the “digesting-house,” which was dark inside.  Emerging at the other end, we met an old man, who started as if he had seen the Devil himself and gave us no time to ask any question.  He hurried away.  This greeting was not friendly.  Then we came to the wharf, where the man in charge stuck to his station.  I asked him if Mr. Sorlle (the manager) was in the house.

“Yes,” he said as he stared at us.

“We would like to see him,” said I.

“Who are you?” he asked.

“We have lost our ship and come over the island,” I replied.

“You have come over the island?” he said in a tone of entire disbelief.

The man went towards the manager’s house and we followed him.  I learned afterwards that he said to Mr. Sorlle:  “There are three funny-looking men outside, who say they have come over the island and they know you.  I have left them outside.”  A very necessary precaution from his point of view.

Mr. Sorlle came out to the door and said, “Well?”

“Don’t you know me?” I said.

“I know your voice,” he replied doubtfully.  “You’re the mate of the Daisy.”

“My name is Shackleton,” I said.

Immediately he put out his hand and said, “Come in.  Come in.”

“Tell me, when was the war over?” I asked.

“The war is not over,” he answered.  “Millions are being killed.  Europe is mad.  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.  The whalers knew King Haakon Bay, though they never worked on that side of the island.  Soon we were clean again.  Then we put on delightful new clothes supplied from the station stores and got rid of our superfluous hair.  Within an hour or two we had ceased to be savages and had become civilized men again.  Then came a splendid meal, while Mr. Sorlle told us of the arrangements he had made and we discussed plans for the rescue of the main party on Elephant Island.