distinguished naturalist; Erik often
accompanied him in his expeditions, and thus early acquired a taste for
natural history and research. He entered the University at Helsingfors
in 1849. The stern rule of Russia subsequently compelled young
Nordenskiold to go to Sweden. The governor of Finland, fancying he
detected treason in some after-supper speech, Nordenskiold was obliged
to depart; but this was the turning point in his career.

The illustrious Mosander received the student cordially. Nordensk'iold
studied hard, and in 1858 made his first acquaintance with Arctic seas
in Torrell's Spitzbergen expedition. In 1861 he again accompanied
Torrell to Spitzbergen. In July, 1863, he married. In 1864 he
commanded an expedition fitted out by the Academy of Stockholm, and in
1868, aided by Government and Mr Oscar Dickson, he reached the highest
latitude ever attained in the eastern hemisphere. From this expedition
he brought home a rich collection of curiosities. Again, in 1870, Mr
Dickson paid the expenses of a voyage to Greenland.

In 1872, Nordenskiold (whose name, we may mention, is pronounced
Nordensholt) undertook another Polar expedition with two vessels, the
_Polhern_ and the _Gladen_. A quantity of reindeer-moss was provided
and stowed in a third ship, the _Onkel Adam_. Nordenskiold was
accompanied by Lieutenant L. Palander, with Doctor Envall, E. Parent, an
Italian officer, and Messrs. Wijkander and Kjellman as scientists. On
the 4th of July the _Polhern_ and _Gladen_ sailed; from Gothenburg, and
when the former reached Tromsoe, the Austrian Polar vessel _Amiral
Tegethoff_ was about to sail.

On the 25th of July, South Cape, the southern extremity of Spitzbergen,
was sighted, and the vessels proceeded along the coast northward between
Prince Charles Foreland and the mainland till Fair Haven was reached.
Here they were obliged to remain because of the ice, and in August the
_Onkel Adam_ arrived with the reindeer and other necessary assistance,
and with stores. The attempt to reach the Seven Islands north of
Spitzbergen was now abandoned for that season, but some progress to the
north was effected, and Mussel Bay, to the north-north-east of
Spitzbergen, was selected as winter quarters.

Scarcely had the necessary preparations been made when a sudden and
extremely violent storm arose; by this the unexpected advent of the ice
was announced. The cold hand was quickly laid upon the waters, and the
winte