THROUGH THE ICE TUNNEL 189 



canyon, but without any warning they were stopped by 

 a high wall of ice, perpendicular and inaccessible to any 

 one without wings. Looking about, Sverdrup found a 

 large hole which proved to be the beginning of a tunnel 

 through the glacier. Through this lofty vault they 

 sped. From the roof hung threateningly above their 

 heads gigantic blocks of ice, seamed and cleft and 

 glittering sinisterly ; and all around were icicles like 

 steel-bright spears and lances piercing downwards on 

 them. Along the walls were caves after caves, with 

 pillars in rows like giants in rank ; and over all shone a 

 ghostly whitish light which became bluish as they went. 

 " 1 dared not speak," says Sverdrup. " It seemed to me 

 that in doing so I should be committing a deed of dese- 

 cration ; I felt like one who has impiously broken into 

 something sacred which Nature had wished to keep 

 closed to every mortal eye. I felt mean and con- 

 temptible as I drove through all this purity. The 

 sledges jolted from block to block, awakening thunder- 

 ous echoes in their passage : and it seemed as if all the 

 spirits of the ice had been aroused and called to arms 

 against the intruders on their church-like peace." 



