3 6 HUNTERS AND HUNTING IN THE ARCTIC 



extreme, so we progressed cautiously until the ice, 

 becoming firmer, enabled us to advance more 

 comfortably. 



A man, attired in black trousers and a blouse, 

 came towards us. It had been impossible to 

 identify the flag flying above the hut, and we had, 

 therefore, been unable to learn his nationality. 

 We wished him ' Good-day ' in Norwegian and 

 he replied in the same language. We learnt 

 that he was a Norwegian from Aalesund. He 

 appeared to be about thirty years of age, was 

 well set up, possessed very expressive blue eyes, 

 and brown hair. It was easy to see that he had 

 just finished shaving himself in order to receive 

 us. He informed us that he was one of seven 

 fur hunters from Aalesund, and that they had 

 wintered in the house before us. They had 

 landed on July 3, 1908. 



Two of them, their employer and one of the 

 men, had been killed on the I2th of the preced- 

 ing May whilst bear-hunting. They had been 

 tempted to follow a bear over rotten ice. The 

 ice sundered beneath them, letting them into 

 the water. Their companions had found it 

 impossible to rescue them, and they, finding it 

 beyond their power to regain firm ice, had 

 remained clinging to the edge until merciful 

 death had come to release them. 



