CHAPTEK XXXI. 



SEVENTEENTH OF MAY WHITSUNTIDE AMENITIES. 



LATER in the day we had brilliant sunshine, and the weather was 

 equally fine when I turned out at midnight to take a meridian 

 altitude. 



We were now in great want of game ; the last of our dog- food 

 would very soon be used up, and we must therefore be prepared 

 to sacrifice some days to shooting ; but it would be better to wait 

 till we reached the good game country a little farther south. 



We went pretty fast southwards along by the land. After 

 driving four or five miles, we turned up a valley, and eventually 

 worked our way up a ridge, which promised us a good view across 

 the wide-stretching plains. We very soon discovered a polar herd 

 down in the valley, a mile or so away from us, and immediately 

 made out our plan of campaign. We found it necessary to drive 

 back a little way, in order to get down into this valley, and we 

 also took the precaution to put the over-runners under the sledges, 

 for we knew that when the dogs winded big game, after such a 

 long interval, they would probably take boulders and everything 

 else on their way. 



The over-runners were well fastened on, the ammunition was 

 taken out and put in a handy place, the guns were looked to, and 

 off we started. At first the way down to the valley appeared rather 

 doubtful, but we set off full speed down through some sandy 

 hollows, and, our loads being light, we managed very well. At 

 the bottom of the valley there was deep loose snow, in which the 

 dogs floundered about a good deal. They were so clever that they 

 well understood what was likely to follow these manoeuvres ; they 

 had been sniffing and looking about all day just as eagerly as we 



37f> 



