GREENLAND BY THE POLAR SEA 



if I could not come across winter-houses which might continue 

 the chain of the surprisingly many we had passed at Inglefield 

 Land. The result was a negative one, and we had to be con- 

 tented with the finding of a number of meat-pits of the ordinary 

 Eskimo type ; a single tent-ring we also found, but it was a 

 square one, and therefore would be one of the remains from 

 Morton's and Hans Hendrik's voyage. 



Late in the evening we came back to the tent-camp, with 

 wind-bitten faces and stiff limbs, and soon discovered that 

 something joyous mustTiave happened. The camp was in a 

 tumult. The Eskimos ran towards us with loud shouts, and 

 now and then they would spring up in the air slapping their 

 thighs — always a sign of happiness. As soon as we were 

 within shouting distance, we were informed that Koch and 

 Inukitsoq had shot a bear off Cape Clay, and the " Star" and 

 Majaq had slain another two bears not far from the tent-camp. 

 This news meant fresh and savoury meat in the pots for many 

 a day ahead, and a change in diet from walrus to bear is always 

 beneficial. 



In addition to the successful bear-hunt, Koch had had a 

 great geological success, as he had found rich stone-bearing 

 strata on the stretch of coast which he had examined. 



Nothing is more stimulating on a voyage than the success 

 of a comrade, and as the results of the day had been rather 

 poor so far as I was concerned, I decided to continue the jour- 

 ney towards Humboldt's Glacier on the next day whilst my 

 comrades continued northward. At this early stage of the 

 voyage we could not afford to let the whole of the expedition 

 wait for me, wherefore I must try to make a double journey 

 and overtake the others in the course of the next two days. 



I knew there ought to be houses in the vicinity, as many 

 hunters, through their parents, had heard tales of a camp north 

 of Humboldt's Glacier ; but nobody knew where it was 

 situated, and the problem was to find the place. I therefore 

 started my journey in along the coast early next day, while all 

 the other sledges in a long row continued slowly northward. 

 Koch wished to pay a supplementary call at Cape Clay, and 

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