The supposition is that Walton has met with a ship above Finland at the
end of the common sea-route out of the Russian port of Archangelsk. Here, at the top of
Scandinavia, as Walton continues his northern voyage, the other ship
prepares to curve in a southerly direction toward England. With its
departure Walton loses his last contact with his domestic circle: from now
on he must prepare himself to be in isolation.
