Nests filled with baby auks were other interesting studies. 
Late in the evening there was snow; so we were glad 
when, three in the morning, the rudder being fixed, we could 
get away. 
June 25th brought us in sight of Hornsund’s Tind, one of 
Spitzbergen’s highest peaks—4,500 feet. Seldom is Horn¬ 
sund’s wholly cloud-free; at the time of our visit a stratum 
of cloud crossed the slopes, two-thirds to the top, leaving ice- 
clad peaks in view, to reflect the occasional sunlight which 
peeped through the clouds. 
Mountains capped in unmelting snows rose close to shore, 
wearing a loneliness which untrod¬ 
den countries alone bear. 
Off from Bell Sound, round Re¬ 
cherche Bay, on the 26th, these 
snow-capped peaks circled round, 
till one scarce could find the entry 
to the harbor. 
Seven whaling companies are 
entrenched here—their methods of 
procedure much alike. A whale, 
when shot, is brought alongside by 
tug, and flensed while yet in the 
water by men in skiffs. The sea 
round about grows gory in the proc¬ 
ess, and the air swarms with ful¬ 
mars. Blubber is hoisted to the 
vats, while the ship’s deck is con- LANDING IN BELL 
verted to a noisome whale-oil fac- SOUND 
tory. 
Ten miles from the factories, on Eider Island—a bit of 
rocky land, covered with shale, and of low shores, built rather 
steep—we huntsmen found good sport. 
Learmonth shot three seal at close range on the ice; but, 
as usual, these lay over their blow-holes and slid in at once, 
so that we lost them. Sixty-nine eider duck, a black-backed 
gull, one burgomeister, one herring gull, five tern, a pair of 
snippets, three geese, three robber gulls, two little auks, and 
five white buntings comprised our bag, without mentioning 
the fresh eider eggs obtained. 
[ 39 ] 
June 25th 
June 26th 
