7o THE SIEGE OF THE NORTH POLE 



completely exhausted. On the return journey to the 

 ship they had to depend entirely on the small caches 

 which had been left on the outward journey. Fortunately, 

 all of these, with one exception, were undisturbed. By 

 the time they reached Cape Hawks and were about 

 to cross the Sound, Jensen's leg had so far improved 

 that he was able to walk. Near the Greenland coast 

 the ice was beginning to give way, and it was with 

 difficulty that they reached land. Part of the journey 

 to the ship had then to be made on foot across the 

 mountains. 



During the absence of Haves, McCormick the sailing- 

 master had examined the ship, and found that the damage 

 sustained in the ice was serious. He repaired it as well 

 as he could, but it was not now in a condition to stand 

 any further collision with the ice. This was a great 

 disappointment to Hayes, as he intended, as soon as the 

 ice broke up, to make another attempt with the ship to 

 cross the Sound, and pass up the west coast. 



On the 3rd of July, Hayes describes a walrus-hunt : — 

 " I have had a walrus-hunt and a most exciting day's 

 sport. Much ice has broken adrift and come down the 

 Sound during the past few days ; and, when the sun is 

 out bright and hot, the walrus come up out of the water 

 to sleep and bask in the warmth on the pack. Being 

 upon the hilltop this morning to select a place for 

 building a cairn, my ear caught the hoarse bellowing of 

 numerous walrus ; and, upon looking over the sea, I 

 observed that the tide was carrying the pack across the 

 outer limit of the bay, and that it was alive with the 

 beasts, which were filling the air with such uncouth noises. 

 Their number appeared to be even beyond conjecture, for 

 they extended as far as the eye could reach, almost every 

 piece of ice being covered. There must have been, indeed, 

 many hundreds, or even thousands. 



