NORTHWARD BOUND 17 



rugged life of the north seas. It was a pleasant ex- 

 perience and left with me a remembrance of its in- 

 explicable charm, and a desire to return to it and 

 enjoy again a season of its wild, fascinating freedom. 



When the Erik steamed out of Turnavik Harbor 

 the next morning a stiff northwest wind was blowing, 

 the air was raw and the sea rough. The wind 

 rose to a gale during the day, and we finally began to 

 ship so many seas that danger of losing our deck 

 cargo of coal and whale meat shut us down to half 

 speed until late in the afternoon, when we ran into 

 an ice floe, with its calming effect. 



Out of the ice again the sea ran heavy and we were 

 held down to half speed. The whale's meat, however, 

 was not. It was decaying at more than normal 

 speed, with the result that its odor permeated every- 

 thing, and followed us everywhere. There was no 

 getting away from that smell; it followed us into 

 the farthermost corners of the ship. Like an evil 

 spirit it haunted us continually, even as we slept. 

 At length our food tasted of it. One day a particu- 

 larly heavy sea broke the bins in which it was stored, 

 and ten or fifteen tons of the half rotten flesh was 

 spread over the deck. What a mess ! It was so ripe 

 and tender that it would scarcely hold together to be 

 handled, and the poor sailors had more than their 

 share of trouble in endeavoring to capture and con- 

 fine it again. To think of it at this distance is 

 amusing. But then it was a horror! 



But there were calm, pleasant days, and at such 

 times, and whenever conditions permitted, Norton 



