200 NEW LAND. 



the ice was drifting southwards, we knew that at any rate we should 

 get free in Smith Sound, so that there was no danger of our being 

 beset in Kane Basin. The chances, however, of our being able to 

 penetrate northwards were extremely small. Thus we lay for 

 several days, and at last got free only a few miles north of Cape 

 Sabine, but -by then the channel leading northward was gone. 

 We then decided to go across to Foulke Fjord, where we anchored 

 in our old place. 



We found one of Peary's ships lying a little distance up the 

 fjord, and about an hour after we had dropped anchor, Captain 

 Bartlett came to see us, together with Dr. Dedrick and one or two 

 other members of the expedition. We spent several pleasant hours 

 in their agreeable company. They gave us some newspapers, 

 and told us that one of Peary's ships, which had come from America, 

 had a mail on board for us, but that she had left it at Payer 

 Harbour. We also learned that Peary was here in active pre- 

 paration for wintering. His other ship was out walrus-catching, 

 probably down near Northumberland. 



Baumann called upon Lieutenant Peary, who was kind enough to 

 invite us to send letters with his ship to our nearest friends ; on 

 condition that nothing should be made known with regard to 

 the expedition itself. 



The following day we had a visit from Peary's owner, Mr. 

 Bridgman, and from Professor Libbey, also an American. Mr. 

 Bridgrnan very kindly offered to let one of the ships bring our mail 

 every year, promising to let the Tram's' owners know at what 

 date the ships would be due to sail. 



It was still blowing hard and the weather was very thick, so, as 

 there seemed no chance of our getting off, we took it quietly, wrote 

 letters, and went hare-shooting. Being in Peary's winter quarters, 

 we left the walrus entirely to him, as we knew he wanted them 

 as food for his dogs. 



Fosheim and Isachsen went in the gig to Port Foulke on 

 the south side of the mouth of the fjord, and there, among other 

 game, saw a fair number of walrus. Of course, in such a little 

 boat they did not think of trying to capture any, but all 

 the same an infuriated animal gratuitously followed them, and 



