326 THE GERMAN ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



wlien we became suddenly aware of the very desirable 

 presence of three musk-oxen — two bulls and a cow — 

 which were quietly grazing at a little distance. Until 

 now we had not met with any of these animals on Pen- 

 dulum Island ; and our delight at the sight of these wild, 

 interesting creatures may be imagined. Sengstacke and 

 Wagner made a circuit towards the interior, to prevent 

 them from flying to the hills in the interior of the island, 

 whilst I remained on the coast, protected from their sight 

 by a small hilly ridge running parallel with the shore, 

 Sengstacke was the first to get within shooting distance, 

 when, all at once, the oxen began to snort, which with 

 them is a sign either of fear or of anger ; and all three 

 started at full speed straight to the Hasenberg, when 

 they rapidly disappeared in the ravine at its foot. We 

 now separated further still from one another, as we 

 hoped to find them again in one of the deep ravines, 

 when we suddenly saw them once more, hurrying up 

 a steep declivity of loose stones. It was really a fine 

 sight to see them leaping with such astonishing agility, 

 where man would have had great trouble in even setting 

 his foot. They kept close to each other, as all animals 

 do that go in herds. Had they done otherwise, those far 

 behind would have been under a perfect hail of stones 

 from those which, in their eagerness, had hurried for- 

 ward. This was the last we saw of them that day ; for, 

 although we scoured the whole of the southern slope of 

 the Hasenberg, making a circuit into the interior, the 

 creatures remained invisible. Chiefly from the wish to 

 bag something, we shot some hares ; but our whole 

 thoughts were on the musk-oxen. As we returned I saw, 

 as I had done in the morning, some eider-drakes. I 



