376 THE END OF THE WINTER 



first time. Some of the dogs had grown too fat in the 

 course of the winter, and had difficulty in keeping up; 

 for them this first trip was a stiff pull. But most of 

 them were in excellent condition fine, rounded bodies, 

 not lumpish. It did not take long to get up the hill 

 this time; most of them had to stop and get their 

 wind on the slope, but there were some that did it 

 without a halt. Up at the top everything looked just 

 as we had left it in April. The flag was still standing 

 where we had planted it, and did not look much the 

 worse for wear. And, what was still stranger, we could 

 see our old tracks southward. We drove all our sledges 

 well up, unharnessed the dogs, and let them go. We 

 took it for granted that they would all rush joyfully 

 home to the flesh-pots, nor did the greater number dis- 

 appoint us. They set off gaily homewards, and soon 

 the ice was strewn with dogs. They did not behave 

 altogether like good children. In some places there was 

 a sort of mist over the ice; this was the cloud of snow 

 thrown up by the combatants. But on their return 

 they were irreproachable ; one could not take any notice 

 of a halt here and there. At the inspection that even- 

 ing, it appeared that ten of them were missing. That 

 was strange could all ten have gone down crevasses? 

 It seemed unlikely. 



Next morning two men went over to the starting- 

 point to look for the missing dogs. On the way they 

 crossed a couple of crevasses, but there was no dog to 



