170 



NEW LAND. 



noticeably, and this was a bad sign, but we had made up our 

 minds to see the head of the fjord, and see it we meant to. 



With nearly fourteen miles behind us we stopped a little 

 before midday to take observations, and then went on again. 

 About two o'clock, as we were driving fast up the fjord, a 

 bear came bearing down upon us. I meant to have him. We 

 were going down wind, so that the dogs did not get scent of it 

 at first, but when I suddenly swerved from the course they knew 

 at once that something was going on, and increased their pace 

 still more. They soon caught sight of the bear, and then they 



OUK LAST CAMP TOGETHER AT BLAAMANDEX. 1901. 



set off at such a rate that the snow whined under the runners 

 and the sledge hopped from drift to drift, while I hurried by 

 the side on 'ski.' 



At fifty yards' distance I was just about to let go the traces 

 when one of my ' ski ' got under the sledge, and down I went. 

 I still had hold of the connecting lanyard, but it was fastened so 

 tightly to the traces that I could not loosen it. Now it was 

 my turn to be dragged ! I can't imagine where the dogs get their 

 strength from when they are on to game : the heaviest load is as 

 nothing to them then. Their pace was as fast as ever, though both 

 my ' ski ' lay crosswise under the sledge. 



