214 SCAECITY OF GAME. Chap. XII. 



freeze over, and others will form, and gape, and 

 freeze at intervals, se that by next spring we 

 shall probably be moved several inches, perhaps 

 feet, oflf shore. 



Mists have obscured the sun of late, and now 

 it does not rise at all. We are indifferent : 

 its departure has become to us a matter of 

 course. The usual winter covering of snow 

 has been spread upon deck rather more than 

 a foot thick. Its utility in preventing the 

 escape of heat became at once strikingly 

 apparent. Nothing has been seen but a few 

 ptarmigan and one reindeer, which trotted off 

 towards the ship. Our bullets missed him, 

 and the dogs unfortunately caught sight and 

 chased him away. I do not think any dogs 

 could overtake a reindeer in this rough 

 country ; the rocks would speedily lame them, 

 and the snow, in many places, is quite deep 

 enough to fatigue them greatly, whereas it 

 offers but sHght impediment to the deer, 

 furnished as he is with long legs and spreading 

 hoofs. 



29^A. — Animals have become very scarce. A 

 few ptarmigan and willow-grouse have been 

 seen, and three shot. Two days ago I saw two 

 reindeer. The eastern sea is frozen over, and 

 our old acquaintance the iceberg iii Prince 



