376 FARTHEST NORTH 



ing showed us to be in 79" 35' north latitude — exactly what 

 I had thouQ-ht. We are so accustomed now to calculatins: 

 our drift by the wind that we are able to tell pretty 

 nearl}^ where we are. This is a good step northward, if 

 Ave could take many more such. In honor of the King's 

 birthday we have a treat of figs, raisins, and almonds. 



"Tuesday, January 23d. When I came on deck this 

 morning ' Caiaphas ' was sitting out on the ice on the 

 port quarter, barking incessantly to the east. I knew 

 there must be something there, and went off with a re- 

 volver, Sverdrup following with one also. When I got 

 near the dog he came to meet me, always wriggling his 

 head round to the east and barking; then he ran on before 

 us in that direction; it was plain that there was some 

 animal there, and of course it could only be a bear. The 

 full moon stood low and red in the north, and sent its 

 feeble light obliquely across the broken ice-surface. I 

 looked out sharply in all directions over the hummocks, 

 which cast long, many -shaped shadows; but I could 

 distinguish nothing in this confusion. We went on, 

 ' Caiaphas ' first, growling and barking and pricking his 

 ears, and I after him, expecting every moment to see a 

 bear loom up in front of us. Our course was eastward 

 along the opening. The dog presently began to go 

 more cautiously and straighter forward ; then he stopped 

 making any noise except a low growl — we were evident- 

 ly drawing near. I mounted a hummock to look about, 

 and caught sight among the blocks of ice of something 



