168 XEW LAND. 



Meanwhile, I helped Schei to throw off the load from his 

 sledge, his team was put to, and he drove off as quickly as he 

 could, with the mate on 'ski ' a good way ahead of him. The bear 

 was brought to bay at the crack, but before the mate came within 

 shot, it had managed to slip off up the talus, where it took refuge 

 below a crag. By this time, however, the dogs were so tired out 

 that they gave up the chase, and the mate with great trouble dis- 

 entangled them. It appeared as if the bear was as tired as the 

 dogs, for it sat panting among the stones for a long time. 



It was not till three hours afterwards that the men and dogs 

 turned up again. Meanwhile, Fosheim and I had struck camp ; 

 had hung the inner tent up to dry, freed both tents from ice, and 

 had dried them. While we were doing this, and waiting for our 

 companions, we kept an eye on a bear which hung about for a 

 long time a little east of us. It appeared to have a burning 

 desire to make our acquaintance, and several times started towards 

 us, but always thought better of it. Finally it fell on to our 

 driving way, and followed the track back, as bears generally do, 

 disappearing to the south-west. As, according to the mate, it 

 was easier travelling under land, we set our course straight on 

 the shore. 



At the headland we had been making for a long fjord opened 

 out to view, in a northerly direction. At last, then, we had probably 

 found the waterway we had been seeking so long ! 



