52 SPITSBERGEN chap, hi 



It sucked at the heel of a dead grey seal, like some wild creature caged, 

 And peered at the prize with puckered eyes, critical and aged, 

 Glancing askew at the presence new, as jealously enraged." 



With these rhymes running in my head I reached our 

 landing-place on the coast, and there, to my great relief, 

 found our boat, and the artist still sketching. It appears 

 the boat had been sent to wait for me, and the artist had 

 taken the opportunity of returning to finish his picture. My 

 first inquiry was for food, but there was none to be had, 

 the party having returned to the ship to dine ; but I espied 

 a half-empty mug of beer, which had been standing in the 

 sun since the morning ; this I finished without ceremony 

 and with great satisfaction. After an hour's pull, of which 

 I shirked most of my share, we reached the ship, and I did 

 ample justice to a cold supper, having been nearly twelve 

 hours without food. 



