chap, xxiii HORN SOUND 321 



imagination to picture as it pleased, and in these latitudes 

 it works wildly. The men on the Expres stated that Garwood, 

 Trevor-Battye, and Bottolfsen had gone off the previous 

 afternoon, carrying tent and provisions, and had not since 

 returned. In such weather it was easy to believe all manner 

 of misfortunes. Possibly the next few hours would bring 

 them back either successful or defeated. We decided to 

 wait for them as long as the Lofoten's margin of time per- 

 mitted. The anchor was dropped, silence reigned, and snow 

 began to fall heavily. 



Gregory, always on the alert, caused a boat to be lowered 

 and went off to dredge. The hours passed and no one 

 came. At noon it was necessary to sail. When we quitted 

 the Sound the surrounding hills were all hidden, and only 

 the base of Rotjes Mount and the broad low front of Torell's 

 glacier could be seen, with the fateful Dun Islands lying 

 before it. In the south the clouds were a little barred 

 and broken with golden lines and the faint reminiscence 

 of sunshine. As we passed South Cape the mists lifted 

 and broke a little, showing the front of the southernmost 

 glacier. Then the peak of Hornsunds Tind peeped through 

 a cloud-hole to see whether we were really gone, and an 

 hour later the whole mountain cleared and stood forth defiant 

 in the north, a mighty tower to all appearance, though really 

 it is but a long narrow ridge, a little peaked at one end. 

 The sun presently reached and began to warm us a little ; 

 we faced it with joy, and ran for it, fast as the engines 

 could carry us. Spitsbergen was behind on the horizon of 

 memory. Europe was ahead, and all our thoughts were 

 turned to warmth and home. 



During almost two days we were horribly rolled about 

 by half a gale from the west. Then we reached the whaling 

 station of Rolf so near the North Cape, and Hammerfest 

 three hours later. Signs of rejoicing in the bunting on the 



