chap, xii THE IVORY GATE 173 



of more stable equilibrium than usual. Up I went, round- 

 ing gradually to the right to overlook the glacier. Suddenly, 

 on turning a ridge, behold there was Agardh Bay before 

 me and Wybe Jans Water beyond it, dotted over with speckles 

 and streaks of ice, sparkling in sunlight, and yet farther off 

 in bluest distance the hills of Edge Island, from Whale 

 Point northward, with beds of creamy cloud lying on their 

 crests, casting blue shadows. The way was quite easy before 

 us, and the distance not great. The transformation of emotion 

 within me was as swift as it was delightful. I yelled wildly 

 down to camp and waved my cap before setting forward 

 from Prospect Point (900 feet) to pursue the ascent of the 

 long ridge whose back I had now gained. 



With every upward step the view became more interesting 

 and wonderful. It was not the snout, but only the side of 

 the great glacier that opposed our advance. The peculiar 

 appearance of the wall was thus explained. The snout de- 

 scends to Agardh Bay and spreads around into a huge oval. 

 We had only to climb the wall, an easy matter, cross the 

 domed glacier and descend the other side, when a few miles 

 of flat though doubtless boggy ground would alone intervene 

 between us and the east coast. Our problem was solved. 

 We had come straight towards our goal by the directest 

 route. The way had been long and often unpleasant, but it 

 was the right way, and does not admit of improvement. 



The reaction from disgust and dejection to triumph and 

 delight was an indescribable joy. Prospect Ridge led upward, 

 and I could not choose but follow on. It became broad and 

 of gentle slope. Shoulder succeeded shoulder, and each was 

 a goal in turn. The view developed in all directions, and the 

 wild clouds disclosed great domes of snow and, southward, 

 peaks but half revealed. But it was ever to the blue fjord 

 that the eye returned, the wide blue fjord, stretching so far 

 away, with its ice floes, and the dark purple hills that framed 



