224 THE SIEGE OF THE NORTH POLE 



fore impossible. The margin of the glacier was followed 

 towards the west, and it was found necessary to land on 

 a drifting floe in order to obtain sleep. Next day, when 

 they turned out, they found the ice packed around them ; 

 but fortunately the open water was not far off to the 

 west, and they reached it without much difficulty. Birds 

 were now plentiful, and it was with great satisfaction that 

 they observed the signs of animal-life, and knew that 

 they could obtain food. Later on they discovered that 

 the land they were coasting along consisted of islands. 

 The first three Nansen named "Evas Island," " Liv's 

 Island," and " Adelaide's Island " respectively. South of 

 these the land had probably been seen by Payer. 



On the 11th of August, while Nansen was on a 

 hummock inspecting the waters ahead, a huge monster 

 of a walrus came up near the kayaks. No notice was 

 taken of it, but it came up snorting, sometimes on one 

 side and sometimes on the other, and threatened to thrust 

 its tusks into the frail kayaks. Ultimately Johansen 

 shot it through the eve, and with a terrific bellow 

 it rolled over and disappeared. Not long afterwards, 

 Johansen's kayak received a violent shock from another 

 walrus, which was shot dead through the forehead by 

 Nansen. With great difficulty, they managed to cut a 

 hole in the thick skin, and obtained some walrus meat 

 and blubber. 



On the 12th of August it was decided to cut off the ends 

 of the sledges, so as to be able to use the kayaks singly. 

 This was done, and better headway was made ; but fre- 

 quently the channel closed, and the sledges had to be hauled 

 over the ice. On the 14th of August an iceberg some 

 50 to 60 feet in height was seen, and this was the highest 

 met with off' Franz-Josef Land. On this day they had 

 bare land under their feet for the first time in two years. 

 The Arctic poppy was here in flower. The imperfections 



