52 NOVAYA ZEMLYA 



comfortable as possible, as shown in the illustration 

 given in De Veer's book in 1598. Low shelves, with 

 partitions between, along the side served for sleeping 

 places ; a cask on end with a square hole like a window 

 in the upper half was frequently used as a bath ; a 

 striking clock and a time-glass marked the passing of 

 the hours ; the large fire in the centre with its frame 

 and trivet and spit and copper pots and other kitchen 

 utensils served for warmth and cooking ; and over the 

 fire hung a large lamp beneath the chimney, which 

 terminated outside in a cask giving it the appearance of 

 a crow's nest ashore. 



While the house was building, and as long as the 

 sun was above the horizon, there was much trouble 

 with the bears, whose daily visits were always produc- 

 tive of excitement. On the 26th of October, for 

 instance, the day after all the crew first slept in the 

 house, when the men had loaded the last sledge and 

 stood in the track-ropes ready to draw it to the house, 

 Van Heemskerck caught sight of three coming towards 

 them from behind the ship. The men jumped out of 

 the track-ropes, and as fortunately two halberds lay 

 upon the sledge, Van Heemskerck took one and De 

 Veer the other, while the rest ran to the ship, " and as 

 they ran one of them fell into a crevice in the ice, 

 which grieved us much, for we thought the bears would 

 have run unto him to devour him," but they made 

 straight after the others instead. " Meantime we and 

 the man that fell into the cleft of ice took our advan- 

 tage and got into the ship on the other side ; which the 

 bears perceiving, they came fiercely towards us that 

 had no arms to defend us withal but only the two 



