88 SPITSBERGEN chap, vi 



an important geological problem to work out on the slopes of 

 Bunting Bluff. I remained alone in the chilly camp, blowing 

 on my fingers and writing 1 by turns, with only the undulating 

 bog before me sloping up to snow patches and a low roof 

 of cloud. The snow was melting with great rapidity at low 

 levels. When the low snow is gone the bogs begin to dry, 

 and the snow bogs at all events, which are the worst, utterly 

 disappear. Thus conditions improve for inland travel, for 

 which the month of June is probably too early. Such at all 

 events was Pedersen's opinion, delivered to me when he 

 returned with his reindeer, and related how he had fallen into 

 a river from its snow bank, and was drenched through from 

 chest downwards. 



Many possible plans were discussed between Garwood 

 and me. It was certain that Low Sound could not be 

 reached by the ponies. Moreover, they must go clown and 

 take the sledges to be mended. If two days' wear and 

 tear had so thinned the ski-runners, two more days would 

 finish them. Back therefore they must be sent to have thick 

 planks fastened under them. This would take three or four 

 days, which Garwood and I might employ on a knapsack 

 expedition, a thing freely undertakable when there is no 

 possibility of being benighted, and one can sleep on the first 

 dry patch when the sun shines. 



After long deliberation a plan was evolved and a letter 

 written to Gregory embodying it, and detailing the supplies 

 required. We had discovered that it was a quicker matter, 

 involving less expenditure of spirit, to broil reindeer in 

 butter than to cook any of the concentrated rations. With 

 plenty of spirit and butter one could therefore live well, 

 and the balance of our stores required corresponding read- 

 justment. 



As I worked all day at these and other matters, I de- 

 rived much diversion from the proceedings of a purple- 



