IN THE DRIFT-ICE OFF THE COAST OF GREENLAND. 25 



sent out with us. As things had now turned out, this was impos- 

 sible, and we continued our course northwards to Smith Sound. 

 On the afternoon of the following day, we passed the Carey Islands, 

 near which the unfortunate Swede, Bjorling, ran aground six years 

 ago with his poor little vessel, and was lost. 



On the way to Foulke Fjord, in Smith Sound, the weather was 

 unusually warm, and we suffered no hindrance from ice. The 

 spirits of the men, which for these reasons were high, rose still 

 higher when the afternoon brought an opportunity for walrus- 

 catching. Four of these animals were seen lying sunning them- 

 selves on a small floe, and instantly the boat was lowered with 

 four men in her. 



Quietly, and with cautious strokes, they approached the animals, 

 which showed no sign of uneasiness. Peder Hendriksen was, as 

 a matter of course, ' boss ' in this kind of sport. He sat in the 

 bows of the boat with his gun loaded, and a harpoon ready for use 

 beside him. In the shelter of a hummock they came within easy 

 range of the animals, and rapid firing from Peder's, Baumann's, 

 and Fosheim's rifles ensued. Two animals were killed, and a third 

 turned over into the water badly wounded, and was immediately 

 harpooned and shot. The 'Fram' now came alongside the floe, 

 which was moored to the vessel, and the skinning was begun on, 

 and, as all hands helped, we soon had both skins and meat on 

 board. 



This was food of the best kind for our Eskimo dogs, which 

 hitherto had had to be content with dog-biscuit and dried fish. 



