BJORNEBORG 317 



work broken into matchwood, and scattered about on the ground. 

 Nearly all the dog-food had been eaten up, and a good deal of our 

 provender had also disappeared. Of the bear-skin and carcase 

 which we had left behind, not a vestige remained. A hole once 

 made in the tent- wall, the foxes also had been able to get at our 

 things, and they had not neglected their opportunity. 



While our party were engaged in skinning their booty, another 

 bear stole up towards them. It wanted, perhaps, to see how a 

 bear should be skinned according to all the prescribed rules 

 Isachsen and Stolz undertook to teach it. They loosed their dogs 

 on to it, but these were more interested in the bear which had 

 already been shot, and would have nothing to say to the other. 

 When at last they turned their attention to it, the bear grew 

 frightened, and set off among the rocks, towards the mountains, 

 where it disappeared from view. 



The next day they started homewards, going round by 

 Baadsfjord, where they found everything in the best order. 



After this information I decided to keep a watchman at the 

 plundered depot as long as any sledge-parties were travelling west 

 of it. Bay at once applied for the post, and was appointed 

 Commandant of ' Bjorneborg.' 



The ravages committed by the bears detained us not a little, 

 as among other things the tattered tent had to be replaced by a 

 new one. It was made by the mate and myself, and was six feet 

 long, six feet wide, and four feet high, with a flat roof and single 

 walls. On the inner side of the framework, along the wall and 

 under the roof, we intended to nail the sail of the boat, which we 

 had at Baadsfjord, while for the floor were destined the tatters of 

 the former tent. When our new bear-skin and what was left of 

 the rags had been placed on the roof, we thought the house would 

 be very warm. 



On March 7 Fosheim and I started west in company with the 

 newly appointed Commandant. We did not take quite the same 

 route as the others, and found the going good and the ice irre- 

 proachable. There had been much pressure in Jones Sound, but 

 it was not a difficult matter to avoid the ridges. 



A little after twelve the following day we arrived at the 



