MORNING CALL. 151 



The skyppar of the schooner came on board 

 in the afternoon to try to beg, borrow, or buy 

 a rifle from us, as he had been so unlucky as 

 to break or lose all the four belonging to 

 his vessel. We expressed our regret at being 

 unable to oblige him, but as he seemed a very 

 decent fellow, and spoke tolerable English, we 

 invited him below, &quot;liquored him up, 5 and 

 then proceeded to extract all the information 

 and news we could from him. He was very 

 communicative, and gave us, first, the story 

 (to which I have before alluded) of the poor 

 man being killed by the walrus. 



Secondly. Three vessels for Hammerfest, and 

 one for Tromsoe, had gone home full, one of 

 them conveying the frost-bitten skyppar and 

 his five companions. All four vessels intended 

 returning immediately, to try to get another 

 cargo if possible, as August, which is usually 

 the best hunting month of the whole summer, 

 is still before us. 



Thirdly. All the ice and all the vessels had 

 left Stour-Piord ; four were hereabouts, and 

 four more to the north and east of Ryk-Yse 

 Islands. 



Fourthly. His schooner was provided with 

 whale-lines and tackle, and he described to me a 



L 4 



