CHAPTER X. 



IOCRNEY ON THE GLACIER. — THE FIRST CAMP. — SCALING THE GLACIER — 

 CHARACTER OF ITS SURFACE. — THE ASCENT. —DRIVEN BACK BY A GALB. 

 — LOW TEMPERATURE. — DANGEROUS SITUATION OF THE PARTY. — A MOON- 

 LIGHT SCENE. 



Notwithstanding that we had no actual daylight 

 even at noontime, yet it was light enough for travel- 

 ing ; and the moon being full, and adding its bright- 

 ness to that of the retiring sun, I felt no hesitation 

 in carrying into execution my contemplated journey 

 upon the glacier. The severe gales appeared to have 

 subsided, and I thought that the undertaking might 

 be made with safety. 



I could do nothing at this period that would bear 

 directly upon my plans of exploration toward the 

 north, and I desired to employ my time to the best 

 advantage. The sea immediately outside of the har- 

 bor still remained unfrozen, and we were kept close 

 prisoners within Hartstene Bay — being unable to 

 pass around the capes which bounded it to the north 

 and south. Both Cape Alexander and Cape Ohlsen 

 were still lashed by the troubled sea. There was evi- 

 dently a large open area in the mouth of the Sound, 

 extending down into the " North Water." When the 

 wind set in from that direction the ice was broken up 

 far within the bay, to be drifted off when it changed 

 to the eastward. 



Besides this, even if the ice had closed up, so little 

 faith had I in the autumn as a season for sledge trav- 



