230 THE SIEGE OF THE NORTH POLE 



astonished to see three bears tearing at it — a she-bear 

 and two young ones. The mother was killed, but the 

 two young ones escaped. On the morning of 28th 

 September a large bear was found sleeping on the blubber- 

 heap, and was shot. It had eaten an enormous quantity 

 of the blubber, and had also killed the two young bears 

 which escaped. 



The foxes caused a good deal of trouble during the 

 winter. They stole everything they could move. Pieces 

 of bamboo, steel wire, harpoons and harpoon-lines, a 

 collection of geological specimens, a ball of twine, and 

 lastly a thermometer, were all carried off. 



On the 15th of October they saw the sun for the last 

 time above a ridge to the south. The last bear was shot 

 on the 21st October, and no more were seen until the 

 spring. 



The life during the winter was very monotonous. It 

 consisted chiefly of cooking and eating, and taking a little 

 exercise when weather permitted. On Christmas Eve 

 preparations were made to celebrate Christmas, but these 

 preparations were of a very limited character. Johansen 

 turned his shirts and put the outside one next the skin. 

 Nansen did likewise, and washed himself in a quarter of 

 a cup of warm water, using a dirty pair of drawers as 

 sponge and towel. For supper they ate a small portion 

 of the provisions they had preserved for the journey south 

 in the spring. Only on this occasion and on New Year's 

 Eve were these provisions touched during the winter. 



Birds again made their appearance on 25th February, 

 and a bear was shot on 8th March. This bear came in good 

 time ; the supply of oil was running low, and they could 

 only afford to cook once a day. Another bear was shot 

 on 2nd April, and as they now had a considerable 

 quantity of blubber and meat, preparations were made for 

 the journey south. But a great deal required to be done. 



