THE LAST ASCENT 59 



the whole landscape opened out, and without obstruction 

 of any kind whatever the last part of the ascent lay 

 before us. It was both long and steep from the look of 

 it, and we agreed to take a little rest before beginning 

 the final attack. 



We stopped right under Mount Engelstad in a warm 

 and sunny place, and allowed ourselves on this occasion 

 a little lunch, an indulgence that had not hitherto been 

 permitted. The cooking-case was taken out, and soon 

 the Primus was humming in a way that told us it would 

 not be long before the chocolate was ready. It was a 

 heavenly treat, that drink. We had all walked our- 

 selves warm, and our throats were as dry as tinder. 

 The contents of the pot were served roimd by the cook — 

 Hanssen. It was no use asking him to share alike; he 

 could not be persuaded to take more than half of what 

 was due to him— the rest he had to divide among his 

 comrades. The drink he had prepared this time was 

 what he called chocolate, but I had some difficulty in 

 believing him. He was economical, was Hanssen, and 

 permitted no extravagance; that could be seen very 

 well by his chocolate. Well, after all, to people who 

 were accustomed to regard " bread and water " as a 

 luxury, it tasted, as I have said, heavenly. It was the 

 liquid part of the lunch that was served extra; if any- 

 one wanted something to eat,^ he had to provide it 

 himself — nothing was offered him. Happy was he who 

 had saved some biscuits from his breakfast! 



