328 NEW LAND. 



In good time on the Tuesday morning we distributed the 

 baggage equally between us ; there was a great deal to be carried, 

 especially of provisions. The mate had taken some provisions 

 with him, which we should have when we reached Jones Sound, 

 but when should we get there ? At this time of year there was a 

 quantity of drift-ice, and it was not unlikely we might have bad 

 weather. The burdens, therefore, were heavy for each of us. 



South of the watershed the weather was clear, but after that 

 we met the fog, brooding thick and close northward over the land. 

 At the north end of the lake up there we had a light dinner, to 

 which we invited Bay, who had come so far with us. After that 

 we bade him farewell, and set off northward. 



On the plains, at Nordstrand, we discovered, to our surprise, 

 a large flock of geese. We had not expected to find geese here at 

 .this time of the year, for it was cold, and there were several inches 

 of loose snow ; we therefore supposed it to be a flock which was 

 not yet able to fly. Schei and Fosheim tried to get a shot at them, 

 but it proved that the geese were quite capable of using their 

 wings, and long before the shooters came within range, the flock 

 had risen and flown off. 



We saw the tracks of a couple of reindeer, and afterwards those 

 of two large wolves, which had been sniffing about, and towards 

 evening reached the boat, where we found everything in good 

 order. It was not long that evening before we were lying well 

 moored in the bags, for we were thoroughly tired after our hard 

 march. 



Next morning there was as much mist as the day before in the 

 north and west. This much we saw, however, that the floes in 

 the sound, large and small, were moving full speed southwards, 

 and, from the dark sky in the north and west, we felt pretty certain 

 that there was a good deal of open water in those directions. 



I had hoped to pay Graham Island a visit, to shoot polar cattle, 

 and take a boat's-load of meat south. But, in this weather all we 

 could do was to while away the time till the fog lifted, and we 

 could see for certain whether the water was sufficiently free of ice 

 to allow of a sail across the bay. 



The waiting time had to be made use of, so we went shooting ; 



