chap, xv MOUNT LUSITANIA 213 



coming with a fair breeze to carry us away. Then we thought 

 it looked through the glass like a steamer. But it remained 

 always in the same position, and proved to be one of Baron 

 de Geer's survey signals, raised and magnified by a tantalis- 

 ing mirage. Fog and rain presently settled down, and the 

 hours had to be spent on camp work, of which there was 

 always plenty to be done. The length of time one has 

 to spend over cooking is alone a considerable factor in 

 servantless camp-life, and the fewer members there are in 

 a party, the longer is the proportion of time thus occupied, 

 since four are cooked for as quickly as two, or more quickly, 

 with more hands to do the odd jobs of fetching water, wash- 

 ing up, rinding tins and things from the stores, and so on. 



The day wore slowly out. A real sail appeared in sight, 

 apparently coming from Klaas Billen Bay. This time we 

 felt sure it was Trevor-Battye, but the boat, in which were 

 two men, did not come in our direction, and was lost from 

 view somewhere in Temple Bay. They were having a brisk 

 sail of it, for there was a hatful of wind and white-caps all 

 over the fjord. Clouds hurried by, low down, and rain- 

 besoms swept sea and land below them. Towards evening 

 rain turned to snow, which even fell about the tent for an 

 hour, but did not lie. Through cloud-breaks we saw now 

 this hill, now another, powdered white from base to crest, 

 the Temple being selected for special adornment. 



Tightly we closed the tent doors, whilst I for my part 

 spent the evening hours seated in a warm fur bag, and 

 indifferent to what went on without. The wind might howl 

 itself hoarse, and the rain ding and splutter on the tent, 

 I cared not at all, but wrote and drew with absolute indiffer- 

 ence. Such treatment takes the heart out of any weather, 

 however bad. Improved conditions consequently set in, and 

 the following day (July 24) was bright again. Spitsbergen 

 weather in these summer months is very English — the same 



