io8 SPITSBERGEN chap, vii 



sledges almost loaded themselves and required far fewer 

 ropes to bind them than at first. The open-air life invigorated 

 our frames ; hearts beat strongly, and we could defy cold 

 with impunity, neither did we dread the constant wettings 

 we had to undergo. We even became used to the bad 

 weather, and ceased to repine that a blanket of cloud kept 

 sunshine from us save at rare intervals. 



At four p.m., July i, I left the oozy and uncomfortable 

 camp and climbed a rounded and unattractive knoll (834 feet) 

 behind it, a mass of bare debris, standing in the midst of 

 the valley, and likely to command a serviceable view for 

 topographical purposes. Cold blew the wind over the level 

 top. Clouds covered all the larger hills, but I was able 

 to look far up the valley to its final branching, and to mark 

 the situation of two cols leading over into the Sassendal. 

 Gregory and Garwood presently followed, their cries re- 

 vealing from afar that they had discovered fossils. Frozen 

 to the bones, when my own work was done, I joined them, 

 and, borrowing Gregory's hammer, went to work stone- 

 breaking to warm myself. The fossils came forth by dozens. 

 It was as amusing as catching fish, though in this also 

 experts had the best of it. I smashed away, and found 

 only bad specimens, whilst rare treasures leapt forth to 

 their lightest taps. 



Leaving them thus well employed, I returned to strike 

 my tent and pack a sledge, then set forward up the main 

 valley, not as before across the bog slopes, but down on 

 the flat stony bottom of the shallow river gorge. 1 Knowing 

 how many times water would have to be crossed by this 

 route, I foolishly wore long rubber boots, which kept the 

 feet dry indeed, but drew them to lameness. It was possible 

 now to advance rapidly, for there were either reasonably 



1 The altitude of the river-bed below Ooze Camp was 327 ft. above sea level. 



