288 FAR THE SI' NORTH 



style over the ice. But it was not long before we came 

 to some high pack-ice and had to turn. This was hardly 

 done before they were off back to the ship at lightning 

 speed, and they were not to be got away from it again. 

 Round and round it they went, from refuse-lieap to refuse- 

 heap. If I started at the gangway on the starboard side, 

 and tried by thrashing them to drive them out over the 

 ice, round the stern they flew to the gangway on the port 

 side. I tugged, swore, and tried everything I could 

 think of, but all to no purpose. I got out and tried to 

 hold the sledge back, but was pulled off my feet, and 

 dragged merrily over the ice in my smooth sealskin 

 breeches, on back, stomach, side — just as it happened. 

 When I managed to stop them at some pieces of pack-ice 

 or a dust-heap, round they went again to the starboard 

 gangway, with me dangling behind, swearing madly that 

 I would break every bone in their bodies when I got at 

 them. This game went on till they probably tired of 

 it, and thought they might as well go my way for a 

 change. So now they went off beautifully across the flat 

 floe until I stopped for a moment's breathing space. But 

 at the first movement I made in the sledge they were off 

 again, tearing wildly back the way we had come. I held 

 on convulsively, pulled, raged, and used the whip; but the 

 more I lashed the faster they went on their own way. At 

 last I got them stopped by sticking my legs down into 

 the snow between the sledge-shafts, and driving a strong 

 seal-hook into it as well. But while I was off my guard 



