50 THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS 



that all thoughts of crossing the Ice-field in that direc- 

 tion had to be instantly abandoned. Our only chance 

 lay in the direction of Don Pedro Christophersen ; 

 here, so far as we could see, the connection of the 

 glacier and the land offered possibilities of further 

 progress. Without interruption the glacier was merged 

 in the snow-clad mountain-side, which rose rapidly 

 towards the partially bare summit. Our view, however, 

 did not extend very far. The first part of the mountain- 

 side was soon bounded by a lofty ridge running east and 

 west, in which we could see huge gaps here and there. 

 From the place where we were standing, we had the 

 impression that we should be able to continue our course 

 up there under the ridge between these gaps, and thus 

 come out beyond the disturbed tract of glacier. We 

 might possibly succeed in this, but we could not be 

 certain until we were up on the ridge itself. 



We took a little rest — it was not a long one — and then 

 started. We were impatient to see whether we could 

 get forward up above. There could be no question of 

 reaching the height without double teams; first we had 

 to get Hanssen's and Wisting's sledges up, and then the 

 two others. We were not particularly keen on thus 

 covering the ground twice, but the conditions made it 

 imperative. We should have been pleased just then 

 if we had known that this was to be the last ascent that 

 would require double teams; but we did not know this, 

 and it was more than any of us dared to hope. The 



