436 FARTHEST NORTH 



sparkling with its eternal whiteness all around me, tried 

 my eyes severely, and I seemed to get no nearer the 

 bears. My prospects of coming up with them were 

 ruined by the dogs, who were keen enough to frighten 

 the bears, but not so keen as to press on and bring them 

 to bay. I would not, however, give up. Presently a fog 

 came on and hid everything from view except the bear- 

 tracks, which steadily pointed forward ; then it lifted, 

 and the sun shone out again clear and bright as before. 

 The Fravis masts had long since disappeared over the 

 edge of the ice, but still I kept on. Presently, however, I 

 began to feel faint and hungry, for in my hurry I had not 

 even had my breakfast, and at last had to bite the sour 

 apple and turn back without any bears. 



" On my way I came across a remarkable hummock. 

 It was over 20 feet in height (I could not manage to 

 measure it quite to the top) ; the middle part had fallen 

 in, probably from pressure of the ice, while the remaining 

 part formed a magnificent triumphal arch of the whitest 

 marble, on which the sun glittered wdth all its brilliancy. 

 Was it erected to celebrate my defeat } I got up on it 

 to look out for the Frain, but had to go some distance 

 yet before I could see her rigging over the horizon. It 

 was not till half-past five in the afternoon that I found 

 myself on board again, worn out and famished from this 

 sudden and unexpected excursion. After a day's fasting 

 I heartily relished a good meal. During my absence 

 some of the others had started after me with a sledse to 



