io8 COOK IN THE ANTARCTIC AND IN ALASKA 



nearly sixty degrees, but the snow was firm and the danger from 

 avalanches very small. There was no alternative but to trust them- 

 selves to it, by digging a shallow ditch or cave into the icy mountain 

 side and there spending the night. To prevent themselves from 

 rolling out during sleep, with a fall of some thousands of feet below 

 them, they drove their axes securely into the ice, and wrapped them- 

 selves and all their belongings into a bundle, which they lashed to 

 the axes. Here, not daring to move for fear of disturbing the snow 

 and bringing it in a shower upon them, they spent a long and stormy 

 night, with the roar of avalanches on both sides for a lullaby, anx- 

 iety robbing their eyes of slumber. 



Daybrea^ after that awful night was gladly welcomed. Dur- 

 ing the hours of the night they had made up their minds, if they 

 ever saw the morning break again, to hasten at all possible speed 

 down from that inferno. But the coming of the sun had a reassur- 

 ing effect and they quickly changed their plans. Not to go back, 

 but to go on, was now their determination. On crawling out of their 

 bed of terror and looking about them in the frosty air, they saw 

 that all the barriers to the ascent had been left behind them. Above 

 them were slopes that seemed easy and unbroken. The way was 

 apparently open and they hopefully took up the trail again. But 

 as they climbed, the task before them grew steadily larger. Crest 

 after crest had to be crossed, and when at length they reached what 

 they thought to be the top of the mountain, it proved to be only a 

 spur, with many like it beyond. 



The cold increased steadily and their exhaustion, mostly due to 

 their loss of sleep the night before, grew extreme. Soon after noon 

 they passed from the ridge they had followed to the surface of a 

 glacier, and here they were obliged to halt, being too fatigued to 

 proceed. It was just past noon, but a long rest had become neces- 

 sary. The snow proved easy to build with and a snow-house was 

 soon completed. Crawling into this, they indulged in the luxury 

 of sleep until the stars of the following night faded before the dawn 

 of a new day. 



