A RACE WITH DEATH 



powerless when he himself gave up and refused to go on. To 

 remain in the big clough void of game would be certain death 

 for us all. 



"My own position was not much different from Wulff's. 

 I also was weak and my life depended entirely upon the hunt 

 of the Eskimos ; I myself had no strength to hunt. If both 

 Wulff and I remained in the clough there would be two instead 

 of one to relieve, in case the luck of the hunt should turn ; and 

 if this did not soon happen the Eskimos' strength also would 

 probably run out, and help would fail. In that case it would 

 mean not merely catastrophe for us all, but the dearly-bought 

 results of our expedition would be lost, as nobody would be able 

 to find us in this clough. There was nothing for it ; we who had 

 as yet not given in must continue without Wulff ; that was the 

 only chance for the four of us. Further, Wulff was quite 

 clear as to the position and its hopeless seriousness. Inukitsoq 

 and Bosun had hunted incessantly since we had arrived on 

 land ; they had shirked no exertion — often they had gone out 

 again when we were camping, and faithfully had they brought 

 to us whatever booty they caught. And so far this had been 

 comparatively plenty. But what was the good of it all when 

 Wulff would no longer eat the only thing we could procure — 

 boiled hare? And now he himself had preferred to remain 

 lying here. 



" As soon as the water was boiled and he had drunk himself 

 warm, he dictated a letter to Knud Rasmussen — a detailed 

 letter which set out his Last Will. After that he himself wrote 

 a letter to his parents and his daughter. Occasionally I noticed 

 some emotion, but he was absolutely calm. 



"When he had finished the letter he lit his pipe and dic- 

 tated to me a botanical survey of the vegetation in Inglefield 

 Land. This was the last thing he did. We then lay speaking 

 for awhile, and whilst we were discussing a probable rescue he 

 said : ' I suppose if I remain perfectly quiet I can live for an- 

 other couple of days, and if during the next few days you can 

 shoot a reindeer I shall, of course, be glad of relief. But it is 

 no earthly good coming back with hare-bones. If several days 



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