330 



FARTHEST NORTH 



on him, and fohansen on his back. I tried to seize my 

 gun, which was in its case on the fore-deck, but at the 

 same moment the kayak sHpped into the water. My 

 first thought was to throw myself into the water over the 

 kayak and fire from there, but I recognized how risky it 

 would be. I began to pull the kayak, with its heavy 

 cargo, on to the high edge of the ice again as quickly as I 

 could, and was on my knees pulling and tugging to get 

 at my gun. I had no time to look round and see what 



" YOU MUST LOOK SHARP !" 



was going on behind me, when I heard Johansen quietly 

 say, ' You must look sharp if vou want to be in time !' 



" Look sharp? I should think so! At last I got hold 

 of the butt-end, dragged the gun out, turned round in a 



