NEW LAND! 129 



Schei, who had had various things to attend to before he could 

 go a journey, was obliged to equip in a hurry, and take Bay's place. 

 He was ready in a couple of hours' time. 



Meanwhile I did not think it necessary to wait with my party 

 till Schei was ready, but started up and across the neck. The 

 loads were heavy and the snow sluggish, but happily the dogs 

 were fresh ; we drove up Gaasedalen at a smart pace, and soon 

 passed the watershed. We had been late in starting, however, and 

 as I did not wish to force the dogs the first day, we camped at the 

 upper end of Storsjoen in 56 Fahr. ( 49 Cent.). Not long 

 after we had got things a little ship-shape, Isachsen and his party 

 caught us up, and camped at the same place. 



We were up and about early next morning. The other party 

 began to cook as early as three o'clock. I imagine that with the 

 fifty-eight degrees below zero we had experienced there were some 

 among us who had not been troubled by the warmth that night. 

 Here the two parties parted company, Isachsen going north- 

 westward, and we north-east, across Storsjoen. 



It was not long before we were down on the sea-ice again, and 

 whatever the reason may have been, I know not, but we found it 

 easier travelling there than on land. To all appearance the going 

 was of the same kind, but my experience is that at this time of 

 year sledges as a rule run better on the sea-ice. 



We then drove northward, with a course for the fjords 

 south of Store Bjornekap, keeping well clear of land. When we 

 encamped outside the big sandbank we had put seventeen miles 

 behind us. 



While we were tying up the dogs as quickly as we could, 

 a big bear came up towards us. But when it came to the point, 

 apparently it did not like its company, for it changed its direction 

 and suddenly bore off north-east ; disappearing from sight, as we 

 would not take the trouble to drive after it. 



The next day we went on at an even pace northward, and 

 reached the mouth of the fjord we were steering on. We supposed 

 that this fjord would extend very far into the land, and that as 

 aforesaid it might possibly be in connection with the fjord we had 

 seen the year before. 



VOL. II. K 



