GREENLAND BY THE POLAR SEA 



Inukitsoq had shot the first young hare. Shortly after he and 

 Bosun shot each a hare, and at Wulff's suggestion we immedi- 

 ately began to cook them. Whilst we others collected fuel and 

 cooked the meal Wulff slept incessantly. This lasted two hours. 



" When the hares were cooked he, as usual, ate hardly any- 

 thing ; but he drank some soup, which warmed and stimulated 

 him. After this meal we slept for another couple of hours, 

 and, satiated and heavy, we continued at seven o'clock in the 

 evening. After an hour's walk Inukitsoq shot another hare, 

 and encouraged by this good fortune, we made camp as early 

 as nine o'clock. Bosun went out hunting at once, returning 

 by midnight with a hare. For the second time that day we 

 boiled meat, but Wulff had as yet some left from the last meal. 

 Again he gave it away, for, as he himself expressed it, meat 

 sickened him. But how could he regain his strength when he 

 persistently refused to eat his rations in spite of all our en- 

 treaties? He only became thinner every day. 



" Another good day of travelling — short distances, much 

 rest, much meat. Although Wulff complained about his heart 

 the whole time, and about his stomach and his terrible weak- 

 ness, he made constant botanical observations which indicated 

 that his memory and his sense of observation were as yet sur- 

 prisingly fresh, in sharp contrast to his exhausted body. When 

 his fingers were too stiff for him to write, he dictated to me 

 that which he wished to put down. On the whole it enlivened 

 him considerably to speak about the plants he found on the 

 way. His botanical interests were as alive as ever and his 

 keenness to add to his results unchanged. Now and then the 

 hope seemed to awake that, in spite of all, he would be able to 

 manage, and this always stimulated him greatly. And why 

 not hope for the best? In two days we had shot and eaten 

 nine hares, we four men ! We saved nothing, partly because 

 we were yet too exhausted to carry anything, partly because 

 there was no indication that game would decrease further ahead. 

 On the contrary, we were going towards the real reindeer 

 district ! 



" But the next day was to be quite different from the two 

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