24 HUNTERS AND HUNTING IN THE ARCTIC 



never rests on it, as is commonly believed. We 

 were able to confirm this statement ourselves, 

 for the island lay before us, virgin white beneath 

 a shroud of newly fallen snow. The only spot 

 where one can encounter signs of volcanic 

 activity is on a plain extending between the 

 island and the foot of the Beerenberg. Here, 

 sulphurous fumes occasionally burst through 

 the earth crust and are discernible from a 

 distance. 



We gathered a few roses, similar to those I 

 have so often seen at Spitzbergen and Nova 

 Zembla. Andersen informed me that he found 

 on the cliffs a large blue flower resembling a 

 marguerite which he had never seen elsewhere. 

 We searched for these flowers, but failed to 

 obtain any. We learnt also that the Beeren- 

 berg had been visible all the winter, but that 

 in the spring mists had surrounded it, which 

 would not disappear until the following winter. 

 We congratulated ourselves on having been able 

 to distinguish it clearly that morning, as the 

 sightseer is rarely granted such an opportunity. 

 Andersen had found it easy to ascend to a 

 height of almost three thousand feet when the 

 summit had abruptly disappeared. 



At last we arrived in sight of the beach 

 where Recamier awaited us, wrapped in a 



