34 NEW LAND. 



and thundering of the ice, that they are never particularly alarmed 

 at the report of a gun and such like noises. 



When we neared the animals, which as I said before we were 

 obliged to do from to windward, they set off in a hurry, taking a 

 diagonal line in towards Stordalen. We followed in hot pursuit, 

 in order to cut them off on the southern side of the valley. Our 

 trouble was great in steering the boat in and -out between the 

 hummocks, but anyhow we managed to arrive before the bears. 

 When I saw that they were starting to go up the valley, following 

 the river, I sent Peder after them, while we remained in the 

 boat ready to give them a warm reception if it should occur to 

 them to turn back. 



After Peder had gone a little way up he caught sight of the 

 animals, dropped into ambush behind a rock and shot them 

 both as soon as they came within range. On hearing the shots 

 we ran up the valley, skinned the booty, and carried it down to 

 the boat. 



Three seals before, and now two bears we had meat enough 

 for dinner and no mistake ! True, we had brought with us food 

 from the ship, but this was really too tempting, and we felt that 

 we must reap an immediate benefit from our bag. We accordingly 

 set the ' Primus ' going at once, and were soon able to comfort our- 

 selves with some delicious broth made from the seal-flesh, with 

 a good bear-steak to follow, and coffee to end up with. 



We did not dredge as much as usual that day, needless to say, 

 for we had spent a good deal of time in the pursuit of our booty ; 

 but we did a certain amount all the same, and were well pleased 

 with what we accomplished in that direction as well as in the 

 other. 



These trips, if on occasion they were very hard work, were 

 also at times extremely enjoyable ; and for the very reason that we 

 had had to exert ourselves a good deal, the rest and ease after- 

 wards seemed delightful beyond measure. And then such lovely 

 weather as we had during the dredging-time out there ! It was 

 simply as beautiful as one could wish. Of course had the weather 

 been bad there would have been an end of all pleasure in the boat. 



During this work we discovered one day a large shoal extending 



