56 NEW LAND, 



Juliana; the weather had changed, and, whereas before we had 

 had beautiful autumn weather, it now began to snow. 



We kept under the southern shore on our journey down the 

 fjord. When we had been driving for about three hours, we 

 suddenly saw a polar ox high up in a steep rocky place. It stood 

 quite motionless, and looked exactly like one of the rocks beside it, 

 so much so that it was almost impossible to distinguish it from its 

 surroundings. I looked at it through my glasses, and should have 

 doubted it to be really an ox if I had not seen it move when we 

 first caught sight of it. 



Fosheim went off to try his luck with a shot, while I remained 

 on the ice to signal to him. There was a gap at the top of the 

 hill, and it seemed as if the animal were thinking of making for 

 this, so Fosheim decided to ascend by the valley, and head it off. 

 If it made up its mind to come down, it would have to settle its 

 account with me. 



But no ! Up it went, and Fosheim was just in time to 

 give it a bullet in the middle of the chest at fifty paces' distance, 

 just as it was about to go through the gap. It turned round at 

 once, and set off full tilt down the slope, the stones and earth 

 flying from under its hoofs. A hundred yards lower down it lost 

 its balance, rolled over, and did not stop before it had reached the 

 ice-foot, where it remained lying quite still. 



When the dogs heard the shot, and caught sight of the animal, 

 they became perfectly wild. I had barely time to throw myself on 

 to the sledge before they were away across the ice, and hardly 

 had I raised myself again before the whole team was fighting and 

 tearing amid the hair of the ox, so that it was anything but easy 

 to drive them off. 



We did not stay there longer than was absolutely necessary, 

 for on the north side of the fjord there was a large valley in which 

 we hoped to find good ground for game. We reached it as twilight 

 was coming on, and pitched our tent for the night, but we were 

 destined to disappointment ; there was no game, and but little 

 vegetation. 



My business now was to get back to Fort Juliana as quickly as 

 possible, in order to give directions to the men who were coming 



