142 NEW LAND. 



He set off next day, ' with Baumann in tow, to find the 

 beef. We did not expect them to be gone more than a 

 day or two, but they were away nearly four, for it turned 

 out the joints had been lost far up Noresund, while they 

 were also delayed by a fall of snow so heavy that it reached 

 almost to their waists. They had been obliged to call at Fort 

 Juliana to fetch food for the dogs, and had lived themselves the 

 whole time on water and raw frozen beef. But Bay was as jolly 

 as ever when he got back, and was quite willing to be cross- 

 questioned ; in fact, he said he had been longing for the moment 

 to come, when he could begin to hold forth, and he now gave free 

 rein to his fancy, describing in picturesque language the high 

 majestic mountains, the deep gloomy ravines, and the great herds 

 of deer he had seen in the west. The spirit of a poet literally 

 passed into him. Sad it is that that man cannot smoke a pipe ! 



On board the Tram,' summer had already made its advent. 

 The snow and ice had been removed from the decks ; the steward 

 had spring-cleaned all the cabins ; and the hut with its canvas 

 covering was in readiness. 



Another event was that for the first time since the ' Fram ' went 

 into winter harbour, a bear had paid her a visit. On April 30, 

 while the doctor was taking his usual observations, he saw a bear 

 near ' the crack ' (i.e. the tidal crack between the ice-foot and the 

 sea-ice) and the south side of the harbour. He finished what he 

 was doing, quietly took his gun, and walked to within range. 

 He dropped the bear at his first shot, and when the others came 

 hurrying up to the spot, armed with their guns, there was nothing 

 left for them to do. 



During the absence of Bay and Baumann on their notable 

 beef expedition, we had a short visit, on May 10, from Isachsen 

 and Hassel, whose triangulation had brought them as near as 

 Cocked Hat Island, or ' the Hat ' as it was usually styled in every- 

 day parlance. They now began on the measurement of angles 

 from up on the glacier by Rice Strait, southwards along the strait. 

 It was only a couple of days' work, but they were somewhat 

 retarded by the bad weather, which I have already mentioned. 



This bad weather began with a stiff breeze and heavy snowfall, 



