126 
A VOYAGE TO SPITZBERGEN. 
were the mothers with their young on their north¬ 
ward passage—interspersed amongst them were a 
few bladder noses. This steamer can force herself 
in amongst the ice without much risk or difficulty. 
With our schooner it would be impossible to attempt 
so much, and our boats are unable to force their way 
after seals, yet we lose no chance that may present it¬ 
self of following up the sport. While we loiter here in 
doubt respecting the course to be pursued, the question 
is finally settled by the appearance of two fresh arrivals 
on the scene; two steamers come puffing and scream¬ 
ing towards us, following their system of joining in the 
sport whenever they find any indication of the pre¬ 
sence of seal hunters, who, though lacking some of 
the advantages of the steamer, have far greater oppor¬ 
tunities of sport, being less noisy and demonstrative 
than they necessarily are in their progress under steam. 
There is now nothing for it, but to stand away far to 
the north of the new comers, and to wait for the 
arrival of the seals which are sure to be driven in our 
direction by the steamers to the southward of us. 
The men say that after the month of August no 
seals are to be found on the west ice so far to the 
south, and we begin again to speculate upon their 
northernmost haunts. 
