CAPTIVITY IN BAADSFJORD. 233 



have come up here merely for pleasure ? ' This always had the 

 desired effect, and brought the delinquent to a sense of shame 

 and duty. 



I was very much annoyed at first at our unwarranted arrest in 

 Baadsfjord, but there was nothing for it but to take the matter 

 calmly; and as our tent-life was so pleasant, and the shooting 

 afforded a good deal of excitement, I was soon reconciled to our 

 captivity. 



We had to think about rigging up some sort of sledge for the 

 return journey. It is true that we were not much more than fifty 

 miles from the ' Fram,' but we were obliged to have something on 

 which to carry our provisions, the tent, and sleeping-bags. "While 

 the others were out shooting, therefore, Fosheim and I started to 

 make a sledge on the model of the Eskimo ones. Two of the 

 thwarts of our boat were sacrificed to make the runners, while 

 the empty bread-tin provided metal plates for fixing on them. 

 We then cut off short a couple of harpoon shafts, which we laid at 

 right angles to the runners, and lashed the whole thing together. 



But the day was so fine, and it was so tempting to follow the 

 others' example and enjoy ourselves, that we determined to leave 

 our work and see what it was like on the other side of the fjord. 

 No sooner said than started on, although we saw well enough that 

 the ice was about as weak as it well could be. We thought, how- 

 ever, that we might get across to the other side if we kept to the 

 strongest parts, and so set off boldly in the beautiful weather. 

 But truly there is a Nemesis in the world ! Suddenly the ice broke 

 under me, and in 1 went. It was I who had proposed leaving our 

 work and going off to enjoy ourselves and make the most of this 

 fine day. Happily, Fosheim was innocent, and also quick in 

 seeing what to do. He held out my gun to me ; I caught hold 

 of it, and he pulled me out. And then we two sinners hurried 

 home to our duty that is to say, Fosheim went on with the sledge 

 whilst I changed my clothes, and went out shooting. 



October 3 was Isachsen's birthday, and we kept it with as 

 much ceremony as our circumstances would allow. We had 

 coffee for breakfast, and brought out all the best food we had at 

 our disposal. We had no alcohol of any kind among our 



