ft 



J 



J 



XXV 



THE SHIP AT LAST 



WHEN I arose snow was still falling, 

 though the wind had died and dead calm 

 prevailed. Late in the day the snow also 

 ceased and in a little while not a cloud obscured the 

 sky. 



A heavy south wind, which had blown steadily dur- 

 ing two days while the storm was with us, had driven 

 many large icebergs into the harbor and everywhere 

 pans of ice now dotted the sea. It was probable that 

 walrus would be found sleeping or sunning them- 

 selves upon these pans. No time was lost in prepara- 

 tion to return to the hunt and we were quickly away. 

 A station was again taken upon the little island, and 

 we were not disappointed in our expectations. Large 

 numbers of the animals were to be seen on pans, as 

 we had hoped they would be, and as a result of a few 

 hours' work four old and two young were se- 

 cured. Butchering was done now on large conven- 

 ient pans, and the meat carried in boat loads to the 

 island to be cached. 



While thus engaged the fickle wind sprang up 

 again, and before we reached the island with our last 

 load, heavy rollers were pounding in upon the shores. 



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