HUNTING FOR WINTER POOD. 333 



arid so sailed east to Maageberget the next morning. As we were 

 sailing alongside the land by the point between Hvalrosfjord and 

 Gaasefjord we caught sight of a walrus out in the water. We put 

 in to shore in a hurry, and threw all our things out of the boat, 

 meaning to follow it. But then we discovered four more walruses 

 out on the ice far out in the sound, and decided to attack the 

 two nearer of these. Fosheim, who did service as shooter and 

 harpooner, was a good walrus -catcher, and the animals were extra- 

 ordinarily meek. We rowed quickly and quietly after them ; they 

 were shot in a moment, and immediately skinned. 



The current was running swiftly to the east, and, during the 

 skinning, we drifted so far away that we had to content ourselves 

 with the catch we had made, and give up the other two animals 

 which were lying farther east. When we arrived at our landing- 

 place with the meat, we found that the other shooters had taken 

 up their abode there ; their tent and all their goods being up on 

 land. Either they must be out walrus-catching, or else they had 

 rowed up the fjord with a cargo of meat. We stacked our meat 

 with that of the others, who had an abundant store, arid made our 

 station a little west of the other camp. Later in the evening the 

 party came back. The mate told us that Peder, who had been 

 taken ill out there, had been sent on board, and that Bay had 

 taken his place. They had rowed a boat-load of meat inwards 

 at the same time, to the edge of the fast- ice. 



As it was not catching weather next day we took a cargo 

 of meat in to Ytre Eide. The whole fjord was covered with a 

 thick layer of brash, which did not exactly increase our pace ; but 

 by degrees the wind carried it out into Jones Sound, and also 

 prevented ice from forming. It was necessary, if we were to feel 

 safe from evilly disposed beasts, to have a watch out here, and 

 this Bay undertook to be, but had first to go back to the ' Fram ' 

 to fetch a tent, provisions, and other things, and would return the 

 following day. 



We now went after walrus every day; but the catches were 

 poor, for the ice, which came down through Hell Gate and Cardigan 

 Strait, was swept ceaselessly by the wind down towards North 

 Devon, and it was on the ice that we had to seek our prey. Now 



