STORMKAP. 249 



nothing to draw ; I had to ask him to drive first, and then we 

 could not keep up with him ! When we had crossed the lanes, 

 however, and had got on to ordinary ice, he slowed down again. 



We camped in the evening under the steep bluffs of Stormkap, 

 where we found a good camping-ground, with only one disadvantage, 

 which was that it blew several percentages more there than any- 

 where else. 



No sooner had we turned out the next morning than we were 

 greeted by a driving blast from the north. The whole landscape 

 was seething in the drifting snow, and of the high walls of rock 

 above us we saw not a vestige, unless we kept close under them. 

 We drove across a large bay to a steep headland on the west side 

 of it. The going was splendid, for the wind had blown away all 

 the loose snow, and we sat on the loads and drove westwards at 

 full gallop. But arrived at the headland we were suddenly stopped 

 by open water, which stretched as far south and west as we could 

 see. There was nothing for it but to bear towards land in hopes 

 of finding an ice -foot which could help us on. 



We decided to camp and reconnoitre westward before attempt- 

 ing to go farther. Fosheim and I went ashore to choose the ground, 

 and I told him to bring his gun, as we might possibly come across 

 a bear among the rocks. 



When we had crossed the crack and had reached land, we saw 

 that the tent could be pitched almost anywhere ; it was only a 

 question of getting the dogs up from the ice. We called them, and 

 they responded to our invitation by tearing across the crack with 

 the loads behind them. Just as I was tying them up, and was about 

 to make the lanyards fast to a rock, they suddenly jerked them out 

 of my hand, and set off westwards as hard as they could go. I 

 looked up, and there, among the stones, was a great bear glaring at 

 us. I shouted to Fosheim, but before he was ready to fire, the bear 

 was down on the ice, making at full speed for the open water. 

 The range was pretty long, and several bullets went astray before 

 it was hit. 



Schei also had let go his team, and when the whole dozen 

 dogs reached and began to worry the bear, it collected its remaining 

 forces, dragged itself the few yards which still separated it from 



