134 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. AUGUST 



after three more stabs had the satisfaction of seeing the 

 animal stagger, fall, and then roll down the hill for 

 about a hundred yards, dead. 



' The young bull, who had been making himself 

 rather annoying ah 1 this time by every now and then 

 getting behind us, now stood watching the carcase. 

 Thinking this was an opportunity not to be lost, I 

 succeeded in stabbing him, but in the confusion he 

 managed to break through our line and escape over 

 the hills at such speed as to render it useless our fol- 

 lowing.' 



On the morning of the 13th the ' Alert ' crossed 

 Discovery Harbour and reached some ice aground 

 near the breakwater at the entrance ; there she was 

 secured, ready to start for Polaris Bay immediately an 

 opportunity occurred. The water-pools on the break- 

 water, each fringed by a bright green border of moss, 

 which afforded the skaters exercise on the 2 6th of August 

 last year, were at this period being used as a rendez- 

 vous by the ducks and wading birds flocking together 

 preparatory for their migration south. They were very 

 shy, and although much patience was displayed by the 

 sportsmen only three or four were shot. Only female 

 ducks were seen, the male birds having apparently 

 started south by themselves, leaving the care of the 

 young birds to the female parents. 



At this season the ground was evidently hardening 

 for the winter. During the spring, long before the 

 temperature of the air was above freezing point, the 

 earth became pulverized to the depth of two or three 

 inches, all the moisture which had rendered it hard 

 throughout the winter having evaporated. During the 



