n8 SPITSBERGEN chap, vm 



work of nature both in structure and decay. The peak was 

 seen rising beyond in a series of steps, like the keep of a 

 castle within the enceinte, or like the storeys of some Chaldaean 

 Ztggurat, rotting back to their original mud by the banks 

 of Tigris or Euphrates. The way led over sticky mud, into 

 which one sank ankle-deep, the mud flowing over the foot 

 and adhering to the boot, dragging it back both by weight 

 and suction. Other paved parapets succeeded and other 

 staged ascents, over slopes of broken stone so steep that it 

 was marvellous they did not fall in one great avalanche. 

 The mud that compacted them made the steepness of the 

 slope possible. The foot behind slid back as the other was 

 raised. It was a toilsome task to go on advancing, and 

 withal a thirsty, for there was little water by the way, and 

 all of it muddy. At last the fifth shoulder was passed and 

 the summit gained (2185 feet) — not a peak, but an undulat- 

 ing area of an acre or more, part snow-covered, part like a 

 ploughed clay-field after heavy rain. 



North-eastward, a cliff fell away to the Sassendal ; on 

 the other side were long slopes of snow and a round-backed 

 ridge, trending toward Brent Pass. It was a poor mountain, 

 but the view from it was by no means poor, and in the 

 clear sunlight, below the soft blue sky whisked over with 

 cirrous clouds, the snowy regions all around shone through 

 the mellowing atmosphere, glorious in the splendour of the 

 silver world. Far below spread Ice Fjord, with Sassen Bay 

 in front, and the mouths of Temple, Klass Billen, and 

 Nord Bays all discernible. Blue were the waters, with 

 threads and areas of white ice interlacing over them, and 

 keeping the surface so calm that the mountains beyond 

 were clearly mirrored back. Bluer still, incredibly blue, 

 were the dark rocks of Temple Mountain and the cliff- 

 fronted neighbouring peaks. In the warmer distance were 

 the great glaciers of Cape Boheman and the maze of peaks 



