GREENLAND BY THE POLAR SEA 



of the botanic stations has to be given up, and we decide to 

 divide the expedition into two parties, with the following 

 tasks : 



One hunting-party must immediately go northward to de 

 Long Fjord to hunt for musk-oxen in the district northward 

 up to Cape Morris Jesup. Dr. Wulff accompanies this party 

 so that he may see as much as possible of the coast. 



But Koch, Ajako, and I must go in to the head of Norden- 

 skjold Fjord, chart this, and then across the inland-ice go 

 towards the hunting districts round Poppy Valley, then 

 through Independence Fjord north of Peary Land. 



All these plans were discussed in the best of spirits whilst our 

 comrades tried to tickle the palates of us, the last ones to arrive, 

 with ever\ r possible delicious morsel from the newly-killed 

 animals. The subjects of our conversation seemed to be 

 inexhaustible after our twelve days of separation, and as 

 we had to go each in our own direction on the following 

 morning, our meeting was a hearty one which I shall always 

 remember. 



IN NORDENSKJOLD FJORD— TIRED DOGS, NO HUNTING 



Our position would be a serious one if hunting should fail 

 hereafter, and we had yet a chance to run away from the fight 

 and return home. For although there was yet the possibility 

 of seal-hunting, which might provide us later on with meat, 

 the chances in the midst of all this old Polar-ice were so uncer- 

 tain that we could not be sure of success. On the other hand, 

 if we were to save our skins by going southward now, our work 

 would only be half accomplished, and no one approved of this 

 solution of the problem. When we left we all knew the risks 

 we ran, and the position was already now such that our lives 

 were at stake in the accomplishment of our task. To my great 

 joy there was not one of my comrades, neither among the 

 scientists nor among the Eskimos, who for one single instant 

 doubted what we had to do. 



Everyone agreed that the expedition in the face of all odds 

 120 



