292 THE GERMAN ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



be hindered, we were at least supplied with meat and fuel 

 for some weeks. 



We now collected our apparatus and brought them 

 down to the Cape, together with the tent. At nine p.m. 

 we had the pleasure of seeing the little Germania sailing 

 slowly towards us, though still at some considerable 

 distance. At midnight it was pretty dark, but we could 

 see to read in the tent. At one a.m. I went out ; the ship 

 was nearer, and a column of smoke showed that she was 

 under steam. I went far out on to the ice to speak 

 privately to the captain, but I might have saved myself 

 the trouble, for those on shore heard every v.'^ord of the 

 conversation, the air was so still and clear. The ship 

 was worked chiefly at low pressure on account of the 

 young ice, although it was not more than one-half to 

 three-quarters of an inch thick ; but with each motion of 

 the ship the ice was pushed layer upon layer, until at 

 last she was brought to a stand-still, and only by backing 

 and running a-head did they at length reach the anchor- 

 ground. The rest of the day was passed in measuring and 

 skinning the walrus. Near the Esquimaux huts we saw a 

 block of quartz, two feet and a half in diameter, the surface 

 of which was wonderfully worn and polished. Had it been 

 used as a sharpening stone, or for what other purpose ? 



On this day our attention was first drawn to the 

 peculiar unearthly moaning and groaning of the ice-floes 

 as they were forced against the land by the tide, and as 

 I was coming from the ship over the ice to land un- 

 armed, I cannot deny that a feeling f)f terror seized me, 

 and I looked round to see the unknown animal from 

 whence the sound proceeded. I afterwards discovered 

 the true cause, however. 



