Chapter V. 



erratic blocks, of various formations, lay scattered. They 

 can only have been brought here by the great glaciers of 

 the Ice Ao-e. There was not much life to be seen. 



O 



Besides reindeer there were just a few willow-grouse, 

 snow-buntings, and snipe ; and I saw tracks of foxes and 

 lemmings. This farthest north part of Siberia is quite 

 uninhabited, and has probably not been visited even by 

 the wandering nomads. However, I saw a circular moss 

 heap on a plain far inland, which looked as if it might 

 be the work of man's hand. Perhaps, after all, some 

 Samoyede had been here collecting moss for his reindeer ; 

 but it must have been long ago ; for the moss looked 

 quite black and rotten. The heap was quite possibly 

 only one of Nature's freaks- she is often capricious. 



What a constant alternation of light and shadow there 

 is in this Arctic land. When I went up to the crow's- 

 nest next morning (September 9th), I saw that the ice 

 to the north had loosened from the land, and I could 

 trace a channel which might lead us northwards into open 

 water. I at once gave the order to get up steam. The 

 barometer was certainly low lower than we had ever had 

 it yet ; it was down to 733 mm. (28 '8 inches) ; the wind 

 was blowing in heavy squalls off the land, and in on the 

 plains the gusts were whirling up clouds of sand and dust. 



Sverdrup thought it would be safer to stay where we 

 were ; but it would be too annoying to miss this splendid 

 opportunity : and the sunshine was so beautiful, and the 

 sky so smiling and reassuring. I gave orders to set sail, 



