CHAPTER XXVII 



N the 15th of July we started looking for 

 whale or bear in the mist again, but with 

 never a sign of either. So painting was 

 the order of the day for the writer, such 

 a chance, no letters, no newspapers, 

 nothing to take one's mind off looking 

 at tf 16 effects of this end of the garden. 

 Hours flew, middag mad of bear passed, 

 painting still going, only interrupted 

 by expeditions forward, where our men were packing the 

 bear and seal skins in salt in barrels. Later we went 

 ashore i.e. on to the blue floe blue ice covered with 

 white crystals, you might call it snow. Three of our party 

 and the dog, a young Gordon setter, wild with joy at freedom 

 of movement, they go off a mile or so over hard, smooth 

 surface, which grows more and more faint in the sunny haze 

 and distance. The surface on this particular floe was smooth 

 and hard and easy to walk on. In most places you see the 

 light coming up as through a carpet of white crystals on pale 

 blue glass beneath your feet. Where there is a little water 

 it is quite blue, and where it is dry you shovel your feet 

 through loose white crystals on the top of the blue. So this 

 is rather different from Antarctic floes, which, as far as I 

 can remember, were covered with fresh snow, so the walking 

 was generally more difficult than here. Before I had seen 

 northern floes my Dundee whaler companions used to tell 

 me how they often played football matches on the northern 

 ice, and I wondered ! now I understand. I also believe 

 now what I doubted, that whilst doing so one misty day, 

 Dundee sealers against Newfoundlanders, referee, silver 

 whistle and all in great style, a bear intervened and took 

 their walrus bladder football ; what a sweet picture in greys 

 that would make, the sailor-men bolting for the ship, their 

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