CHAPTER III. 



WESTWARD WITH THE SHIP. 



SEVERAL broods of ptarmigan had their homes not far from our 

 harbour, and the ptarmigan- shooters kept such a sharp look-out on 

 them that they knew where they were to be found at almost any 

 moment. They watched them jealously, to see how they were 

 growiug, wondering often whether they would be big enough to 

 shoot by the time the ' Frarn ' weighed anchor evidently they 

 had set their hearts on roast ptarmigan for Christmas. Of hares 

 there were very few, though occasionally we managed to bag one. 

 To the great delight of the sportsmen, the young birds grew so 

 rapidly that they were able to shoot them with a good conscience 

 on the day before our departure. 



On August 6, when Baumann and I went up the talus to get 

 a view, we noticed that a considerable change had taken place in 

 the ice outside the fjord. "VVe discussed the possibility of forcing 

 a way out at once ; but in the end decided that it would be better 

 to wait a couple of days longer. On the evening of August 8, 

 when we were again up there, we decided to make an attempt the 

 following day. 



On our return I gave orders that the fires should be lighted 

 during the night, so that steam might be up by seven o'clock next 

 morning. If there should be a change in the weather, causing the 

 ice to be pressed towards land, and thus hindering us, we would coal 

 instead. 



Early in the morning of Thursday, August 9, Baumann and I 

 were again at the same spot, gazing out across Jones Sound. We 

 decided to take the ship out ; and he at once went down to give 

 orders to fetch the dogs on board, while I climbed still higher to 

 get the best possible view of the situation. 



38 



