A HARD STRUGGLE 215 



pool. Near the edge there was some thicker and older 

 ice, which would bear, and over which I went on snow- 

 shoes to look for a crossing, but found none as far as I 

 went. The strip of ice along the middle, sometimes 

 broad and sometimes narrow, was everywhere too thin to 

 risk taking the sledges over. We consequently decided 

 to camp and wait till to-day, when it is to be hoped the 

 ice will be strong enough to bear. And here we are 

 still with the same lane in front of us. Heaven only 

 knows what surprises the day will bring. 



"Sunday, May 19th, The surprise which the Seven- 

 teenth brought us was nothing less than that we found 

 the lanes about here full of narwhals. When we had 

 just got under way, and were about to cross over the 

 lane we had been stopped by the previous day, I became 

 aware of a breathing noise, just like the blowing of 

 whales. I thought at first it must be from the dogs, 

 but then I heard for certain that the sound came from 

 the lane. I listened. Johansen had heard the noise 

 the whole morning, he said, but thought it was only ice 

 jamming in the distance. No, that sound I knew well 

 enough, I thought, and looked over towards an opening in 

 the ice whence I thought it proceeded. Suddenly I saw a 

 movement which could hardly be falling ice, and — quite 

 right — up came the head of a whale; then came the 

 body; it executed the well-known curve, and disappeared. 

 Then up came another, accompanied by the same sound. 

 There was a whole school of them. I shouted that 



