320 THE GERMAN AROTTC EXPEDITION. 



partly covered. Large glaciers were nowhere to be 

 seen. Towards the east only, over Shannon, and Hoch- 

 stetter's Foreland, were some connected tracts of ice, but 

 no trace of open water. Besides this, the ice-fields to 

 the north-east of Shannon were not yet in motion, and 

 the faint hope of advancing further north with the ship 

 in the spring (which until now Captain Koldewey had 

 nourished), disappeared at this sight. Wintering on 

 Sabine Island had now become a certainty, and we 

 retraced our way over ice and naked rocks. In vain 

 did we try, in the now increasing darkness, to find 

 a weapon which we had left behind, and just as fruitless 

 was the search for a draught in the chilly glacier streams 

 with which to quench our burning thirst. As we could 

 no longer feel our way over the smooth ice along the 

 strand, we ran quickly on. It was a glorious night; 

 a perfect calm and a cloudless sky. A whitish northern 

 light, which we saw to the south of us, together with 

 the lights of the stars, shed a feeble glimmer over the icy 

 landscape round us, and the ice-crowned tops of the 

 surrounding mountains were distinctly to be seen. No- 

 where does Nature show herself with greater power and 

 expression than in the Arctic regions ; and on such 

 a September night as this it was truly majestic. 



About midnight we reached the tent. The men were 

 already wrapped in their blankets, and the fire made of 

 drift-wood and reindeer fat was nearly out. It was again 

 brought to a flame, and soon we had a basin of strong 

 reindeer soup, and some delicious steaks before us, 

 which did us good. With a pipe we enjoyed the beauty 

 of the night a little time longer, then wrapped ourselves 

 in our blankets for a good sleep. 



