GREENLAND BY THE POLAR SEA 



By noon yet another seal-hunt is attempted, which, as 

 usual, for three or four hours puts us into a state of violent 

 excitement ; once more it is Ajako who risks his skin, but the 

 only result is another drenching. 



So we exploit the good weather by freighting the baggage 

 across the big, rapid river by which we have camped ; and the 

 first party drives it on the new snow up to the edge of the 

 inland-ice, 6 kilometres from our camp. 



YET ANOTHER SEAL 



August 1st. — The new month started unusually hopelessly. 

 Pouring rain, no dog food if we were not to broach the glacier 

 provision, and only a few lumps of worn-out dog meat for our- 

 selves ; but towards noon the weather unexpectedly clears. 

 As usual, a seal crawled up, though at such a distance that it 

 could not be shot from land. Although the ice after the last 

 days of pouring rain had become mortally dangerous to walk 

 on, Ajako again volunteered to make an attempt. By a 

 roundabout track he approached the seal, for the pools of 

 water were now covered with ice which broke under his feet 

 with such a clatter that the seal could hear it far away. It 

 took some time to get within shooting distance, and also an 

 admirable patience. When the seal suddenly raised its head 

 and began looking around, Ajako had to lie down on his 

 stomach in the deep, cold water and remain there absolutely 

 motionless for minutes at a stretch, until the seal once more 

 went to sleep. Most of us were so excited about the result of 

 the hunt that we could not bear to look at the many stirring 

 details ; we went into our tent and flung ourselves down, un- 

 able to get up a conversation ; our thoughts were incessantly 

 with our comrade who was executing a masterpiece. The shot 

 banged and we rushed out of the tent, the seal did not stir, and 

 a moment later Ajako was beside it and had seized it by the 

 hind flappers. 



As I am writing this, both men and dogs are happy and full, 

 200 



