WHALING AND BEAR-HUNTING 121 



the Azores, and certainly to-day there was that in the light 

 at midday, the sharp shadows on faces as we took the sun's 

 altitude, that, even with a pigeon-grey sky, reminded me of 

 southern light that I have not seen or felt for several years, 

 and we did things with our coats off, and brought our rifles 

 on deck for an overhaul. 



Our Norwegian heavy bores for sea-elephants cost 3, 

 and as far as I can see are extremely accurate at the 

 short range. I have tried them at one hundred and one 

 hundred and thirty yards and they do not burst. It will 

 be interesting to compare the effect of my higher velocity 

 sporting mauser, a 375, with their work. Possibly the 

 larger bullet of the Norse rifle, about 500, may be more 

 useful for this huge animal at close range. The Norsemen 

 are sure of this, but I back the bullet with the higher 

 velocity every time. 



There is a gale this evening and we are running with 

 reefed foresail. 



