dance of wild ducks. Then, for the use of
the ship for cargo, there should be an abundance of seals, and no doubt
before long we shall encounter the walrus, if other people have not been
before us and scared them away. Lastly, sir, I think it very likely
that we shall find your friends in one of the sheltered fiords along the
coast."

That was enough. Steve glowed with excitement, and when, later on, the
vessel was steered slowly in between a couple of great grim headlands
and quitted the heaving sea for still water, his eyes began to search
the shore on both sides for a signal-staff or some signs of occupation.

But at the end of half a mile sails had to be lowered, for a barrier of
ice extended right across the fiord, and any further search would
require to be performed on foot. But no one repined at that. It was
delightful after being cooped up on shipboard so long. A boat was
lowered, guns and ammunition placed therein, the four Norwegians took
their places with the walrus lances, and, very much to Andrew's disgust,
he was not selected to act as gunbearer, Hamish being taken instead.

"We don't want to be left in the lurch again, Steve," said the captain,
"if we do happen to meet a bear. What do you say, Johannes? There are
bears here, I suppose?"

"For certain, sir. You never know where you may meet them. But this is
hardly the place. You see, there are not likely to be any seals here.
Where there are seals there are pretty sure to be bears."

"What are we likely to get, then?" asked the doctor.

"Deer, sir. If we go cautiously up the valley yonder, we shall see the
deer where the snow has melted off the slope. There will be moss
there."

But a long and tedious tramp over exceedingly tangled ground followed
their landing, and they trudged along among stones, over snow, and
through swampy patches, where there were wild fowl; but these were left
in peace in the hope of a more substantial addition to the larder being
found.

Snow was all around them, but the sun poured down with so much power
that they were all pretty well exhausted when the captain proposed that
they should endeavour to make their way back by another valley,
separated from the one they were in merely by a lofty hog-back-like
range of rocky hill.

"I saw wild fowl going in that direction, and we must direct our
attention to them now."

Jakobsen gave his opinion that such a course was quite possible, and
leading the way he str