chap, xxi WIJDE BAY 291 



There was no southward opening. The pack remained 

 continuous, stretching right away to Cape Walter of Wiche 

 Land. Only in the sea the loose floes became more frequent 

 and caused us to make a zigzag track. At last we could 

 advance no farther. The way was barred across and we 

 had to stop. It was still dead calm on the water amongst 

 the floes. Clouds and besoms all around were drifting 

 away before the south wind, leaving us no choice but to 

 return as we came and with all speed, for a few hours 

 of the south wind would suffice to drive the fast ice up 

 against North-East-Land, and cut us off from all chance 

 of escape. 



A few minutes we lay on the still water in the midst of the 

 silence and theice, examining with telescopes and photograph- 

 ing Wiche Land, now so clear and tantalisingly nigh. We 

 could trace the fashion of its architecture, and recognise the 

 bed of hyperite that crowns its northern cape. To the south 

 it seemed to slope down to a low white line resting on the 

 horizon. One more climb to the mast-head in hopeless search 

 for a lead ; then round goes the helm, the engines throb, 

 the water boils under our stern, and we are off again for 

 Verlegen Hook, a straight run of about 125 miles. Would 

 the ice there permit us to pass, or should we find ourselves 

 cut off ? That was the question which only the event could 

 answer. The cold air, pouring over the stern of the boat 

 and down the companion, banished warmth from the little 

 cabin. By good luck the wind was coming up strongly from 

 the south ; a south wind would tend to keep Verlegen Hook 

 clear. That we were retracing our way had this merit, we 

 could sleep and lose nothing. Off Cape Torell the sloop 

 Gottfried of Tromso was hailed. She said that, three days 

 before, the pack had been fast across Hinloopen Strait at 

 this point. It opened out suddenly and was already closing 

 again. Another sloop was seen a few miles away, hunting 



