240 ADVENTURES IN THE NORTHERN SEAS. 



gether he had much more the appearance of a well- 

 to-do London merchant than a Spitzbergen walrus- 

 hunter ; and yet this man is said to be one of the 

 pluckiest and most skillful harpooners who ever 

 transfixed a walrus. 



In the afternoon my steward informed me, with 

 a very serious air indeed, that we were "quite out 

 of sugar," and he suggested that it would be a 

 "good plan to borroiv some from the schooners;' 1 

 so I sent the captains each four fat quarters of 

 deer, and desired one of our harpooners, who car- 

 ried the meat, to say, with my compliments, that if 

 they had any sugar to spare, it would be an accept- 

 able return for the gift, as we were quite out of that 

 luxury. This was somewhat in the Kaffir fashion 

 of making presents, and Johann seemed to think it 

 was to be a literal case of barter ; for he said to 

 me, "I suppose, if they have got no sugar, then I 

 will bring back the deer?" I replied, "Of course 

 not; give the deer, and then ask for some sugar." 

 Nor was my confidence misplaced, for they sent us 

 enough sugar to last us to Hammerfest, and the 

 mind of Mr. Quirk, the steward, was set at rest. 



30th. It still blows very hard from north-north- 

 east, with heavy snow. Thermometer is about 28°, 

 and barometer very low. 



The "Anna Louisa" joined us last night. 



In the evening it looked no better. The barome- 

 ter ivould not rise, and the ice began to sweep round 

 us ; so Mr. Wood said that he must get the yacht 



