CHAPTER IT 

 June 22 to August 15, 1895 



As spring advanced the disturbance in the ice increased, and 

 new lanes and pools were formed in every direction. At the 

 same time there was a daily increase in the number of aquatic 

 animals and birds around us. 



On the night of June 22d I was awakened by the watch, 

 ^vho told me that there were whales in the lane on the starboard 

 side. Every one hurried on deck, and we now saw that some 

 seven or eight female narwhals were gambolling in the channel 

 close upon us. We fired some shots at them, but these did not 

 seem to affect them. Later in the day I went after them in the 

 sealing-boat, but without getting within range. In order to be 

 able to give effectual chase, should they, as we hoped, pay us a 

 visit in the future, we made ready two harpoon-bladders and an 

 oak anchor, which we attached to the end of the harpoon line. 

 Should the whale, when harpooned, prove too strong for us, we 

 would let go the anchor and the bladders, and if the fates were 

 not against us, we might be successful. 



We were quite anxious to try the new apparatus, and there- 

 fore kept a sharp lookout for the whales. One or two were seen 

 occasionally in the channel, but they disappeared again so 

 quickly that we had no time to pursue them. On the evening 

 of July 2d we had the prospect of a good hunt. The lane 

 swarmed with whales, and we quickly started out with the boat 

 in pursuit. But this time, too, they were so shy that we could 

 not get at them. One of them remained some time in a small 

 channel, which was so narrow that we could throw across it. We 

 attempted to steal on him along the edge, but as soon as we had 



