THE ICE-CAP AND BACK 



holding up to these heights. The barometer is 

 now f aUing. 



August 24 



There was rain during the night. We have cal- 

 culated our food supply very carefully and must 

 start back in this bad weather. At night we set 

 up our tent at camp site No. 2 with all of us pretty 

 well drenched and very cold. So soon as the primus 

 stove was going in the tent we began to thaw out, 

 and the savory odor of erbswurst and pemmican 

 at once brought cheerful conditions again. 



August 25 



There was a fall of wet snow during the night 

 so that the tent and ice-axes appeared covered 

 deep with snow. The primus hummed merrily in 

 preparing breakfast and we were comfortable. We 

 are now only a mile and one-half from the ice 

 border. It is bitter cold and a stiff trek is still 

 left. Gloves become soaked and fingers cold. 

 Crampons already badly broken we must continue 

 to use, but the straps are now so rotten that it is 

 impossible to repair them further. I proceed with 

 one crampon, but it is difficult to make progress. 

 By three o'clock, however, we are all once more 

 at Camp 6 just outside the ice margin. Our 



177 



