"How do you know that?"

"Our records tell us that."

I had seen some of their books. They are very crude affairs compared with what the world can make.

"But my book tells me the same things, with many more." I picked up my Bible, and turned over its pages. Joseph instantly became deeply interested. He took it and examined it carefully.

"What is this?" he asked.

"It is a history of God's dealings with part of the world," I tried to explain, for truth to tell, it was hard for me to answer his question. "It tells of Adam and Eve, of Noah, of Abraham, of Moses, and of all the prophets."

The old man's eyes glistened. "Go on," he said.

"It tells much of the children of Israel, and then of the Savior Jesus, and of what he said and did. And then also of what the men whom the Savior chose to preach his gospel said and did."

"The Lord be praised for this," said he, and he clasped the book to his heart. "The Lord be praised for you. You must learn our language, so that you can translate for us this bookthat we also may know."

"Another big job," thought I, "I'll have my hands full."

"And now," continued Joseph, who appeared to be carried away with what he had learned, "you must go with me to the chief men in the land. You must show them the book, and tell them what it is. I cannot keep this to myself longer."

"But, it is hard for me to explain," I pleaded. "Can we not wait for a time. All are busy now."

"No," said he, "we must go tomorrow."

I was not altogether pleased with the outcome of our conversation. I would much rather have remained where I was, at least until I could use the language better; but all my excuses were of no avail. On the morrow we were off.

For many hours we travelled through a busy country of workers, who greeted us pleasantly as we passed. We stopped for rest and sleep in a city, and then we went on again. There was little to see excepting the fields and workers, and the towns, for the most part quite deserted: The roads were smooth and hard and our horses made good progress.

At the close of the second day we drove into a large town. The streets were filled with people, coming from the fields to their homes to rest. Here is where the chief men for this part of the land live. I say chief men because I can not translate the names they call them. They have heads of all civil affairs, I understand, as also of religious.

Although I rested that night, I hope all will understand that it was not night, that is, it was not dark, but there are the usual divisions of time here, and I shall say day and night to distinguish between them. That night I lodged with a man high in authority, yet his house was quite as simple as many I had seen. I was most cordially received, however.

The next day Joseph came for me and we went together to a large assembly room, which was filled with men. I had with me my grip, within which was my Bible. When I saw that assembly of men, mostly elderly, and I knew, wise, I feared greatly. I shook hands with a number who sat on a platform slightly elevated above the floor, and there I sat down with them. A murmur ran through the congregation. Every eye was fixed on me, every ear was intent on what I might say.

One patriarch spoke to the men. I understood very little of what he said, but he was explaining who I was and what might be expected of me. Father Joseph next spoke. He soon warmed to his subject and then I caught very little of what he was saying. Then I was asked to tell the assembly about the world and especially about the book which I had. I was greatly afraid as I stood up, but I realized the tremendousness of what I could impart to them and I entered into the spirit of it. In broken sentences, and misused words, mixed, I fear with considerable English and even a little Norwegian, I talked. I stood before them for fully two hours, and they sat there like so many statues. I told a little of how I had arrived in their land; how many brave men had tried to reach the region near the Pole; and how none had ever succeeded. I told of the nations that inhabited the earth, a little of its geography, and history. I tried to explain the steamboat, the railroad, the electric light and many other of the modern inventions; and then I took out my Bible and told what I knew of the book. I acknowledged that I had not read it as faithfully as I should, but since I had been among them I had done much reading, and had come to a realization of the great worth of the record. I told them that what I had was theirs. If I could do them any good that they were to let me know. If they would have patience with me until I learned their language more perfectly, I should be pleased to do my utmost to impart to them all I could of the great world from which they had so long been shut out.