254 FARTHEST NORTH 



these spheres ? Read the answer, if you can, in the 

 starry blue firmament, 



"Wednesday, September 27th. Gray weather and 

 strong wind from the south - southw^est. Nordahl, who 

 is cook to-day, had to haul up some salt meat which, 

 rolled in a sack, had been steeping for two days in the 

 sea. As soon as he got hold of it he called out, horri- 

 fied, that it was crawlino^ with animals. He let gro the 

 sack and jumped away from it, the animals scattering 

 round in every direction. They proved to be sand- 

 hoppers, or Aniphipoda, which had eaten their way into 

 the meat. There were pints of them, both inside and 

 outside of the sack. A pleasant discovery ; there will be 

 no need to starve when such food is to be had by hang- 

 ing a sack in the water. 



"Bentzen is the wag of the party; he is always playing 

 some practical joke. Just now- one of the men came rush- 

 ing up and stood respectfully waiting for me to speak to 

 him. It was Bentzen that had told him I wanted him. 

 It won't be long before he has thought of some new 

 trick. 



" Thursday, September 28th. Snowfall with wind. 

 To-day the dogs' hour of release has come. Until now 

 their life on board has been really a melancholy one. 

 They have been tied up ever since we left Khabarova. 

 The stormy seas have broken over them, and they have 

 been rolled here and there in the water on the deck ; 

 they have half hanged themselves in their leashes, howl- 



