5/2 FARTHEST NORTH 



at length I could stand it no longer, and set off home- 

 ward, with the dogs dashing wildly on in front. On ap- 

 proaching the ship I saw some of the men setting off 

 with guns ; they were Sverdrup, Johansen, Mogstad, and 

 Henriksen. They had got a good start of me in the 

 direction in which the dogs were barking before I, too, 

 got hold of a gun and set off after them. All at once I 

 saw through the darkness the flash of a volley from those 

 in front, followed by another shot ; then several more, 

 until at last it sounded like regular platoon firing. What 

 the deuce could it be ? They were standing on the 

 same spot, and kept firing incessantly. Why on earth 

 did they not advance nearer } I hurried on, thinking it 

 was high time I came up with my snow-shoes to follow 

 the game, which must evidently be in full flight. Mean- 

 while they advanced a little, and then there was another 

 flash to be seen through the darkness, and so they went 

 on two or three times. One of the number at last 

 dashed forward over the ice and fired straight down in 

 front of him, while another knelt down and fired towards 

 the east. Were they trying their guns } But surely it 

 was a strange time for doing so, and there were so many 

 shots. Meanwhile the dogs tore around over the ice, 

 and gathered in clumps, barking furiously. At length I 

 overtook them, and saw three bears scattered over the 

 ice, a she -bear and two cubs, while the dogs lay over 

 them, worrying them like mad and tearing away at paws, 

 throat, and tail. ' Ulenka' especially was beside herself. 



