SHERARD OSBORNE FJORD 



too great ; strangely silent we continued inward to meet our 

 comrades. 



Bosun told us that Hendrik had remained behind, as he had 

 chosen to take a little snooze and then continue the hare- 

 hunting. 



July 22nd. — At two o'clock in the morning we met W'ulfl' 

 and Koch, rather weary after their long journey. But as soon 

 as they had had boiled hares and coffee their weariness was as if 

 blown away, and we could once more discuss the position. The 

 country had been trackless and desolate, and though a fair 

 number of hares had been observed, they were so shy that one 

 could not hope for hunting which would make a rest here 

 possible. 



We had yet eighteen dogs, and if these were to live on 

 hares they would require at least ten per day ; even that would 

 be a somewhat mean meal, as at this time of the year there is 

 little meat on their bony carcases. We saw clearly that it 

 would be impossible to get so big a bag that it would suffice for 

 the dogs and for ourselves, and in addition yield the thirty hares 

 which, according to our ideas, would be required as a supple- 

 ment to the provisions for the homeward journey. Thus there 

 was nothing for it but to continue inward, as every hour of 

 delay meant a further decrease in our stores. 



None of us gave a thought to Hendrik's absence at this 

 time ; under the changeable conditions of our existence, we 

 were so accustomed to hunt each in his own direction, and to 

 remain absent for indefinite periods as often as we thought fit, 

 that there was no cause for anxiety. For safety's sake, two 

 men nevertheless went to search the mountains in different 

 directions, and even when they returned to the tent at two 

 o'clock in the afternoon, twelve hours after our arrival, without 

 having seen a sign of Hendrik, none of us felt any uneasiness 

 about the matter. This last excursion gave a bag of eleven 

 hares, whereof ten were immediately given to the dogs, whilst 

 we ourselves shared the one amongst us. 



It was Ajako and Inukitsoq who had been in the moun- 

 N 193 



