IMAGINARY LAND 217 



on this occasion we took the opportunity I say we, 

 because I was one of them of propounding a new 

 theory that of an evenly advancing ice-slope from the 

 Antarctic plateau. We saw ourselves in our mind's eye 

 ascending gradually to the top, and thus avoiding a 

 steep and laborious climb among the mountains. 



The day had been very warm, + 12*2 F., and I had 

 been obliged to throw off everything except the most 

 necessary underclothes. My costume may be guessed 

 from the name I gave to the ascent Singlet Hill. 

 There was a thick fog when we turned out next morn- 

 ing, exceedingly unpleasant. Here every inch was 

 over virgin ground, and we had to do it blindly. That 

 day we had a feeling of going downhill. At one o'clock 

 land was reported right ahead. From the gesticulations 

 of those in front I made out that it must be uncommonly 

 big. I saw absolutely nothing, but that was not very 

 surprising. My sight is not specially good, and the land 

 did not exist. 



The fog lifted, and the surface looked a little broken. 

 The imaginary land lasted till the next day, when we 

 found out that it had only been a descending bank 

 of fog. That day we put on the pace, and did twenty- 

 five miles instead of our usual seventeen. We were 

 very lightly clad. There could be no question of skins; 

 they were laid aside at once. Very light wind-clothing 

 was all we wore over our underclothes. On this 

 journey most of us slept barelegged in the sleeping- 



