EXCURSION TO KLEIN PENDULUM. 505 



feet deep, covered with a thin coating of ice, which broke 

 at everj step. 



Fortunately, jnst at the moment when we were going to 

 leave our instruments behind, we came upon a firm bank 

 of snow, where we rested awhile, and warmed our feet in 

 our hands, and wrung out our stockings, after which we 

 got on better, and, had our provisions been somewhat 

 more plentiful, we should have felt quite comfortable; 

 but they only consisted of biscuit-dust, of which we had 

 two table-spoonfuls at each meal, with some coffee and 

 meat. 



At two a.m. on the 15th we started once more. The 

 road was good, but the diminution of our strength was 

 more and more perceptible. Every little while we had 

 to rest. We were now passing through a great valley in 

 which were some considerable streams to ford. Soon we 

 came to a broad, deep river, with a strong current. After 

 several attempts, we at last pitched upon a spot in which, 

 sinking up to the waist, we succeeded in crossing. 



It now seemed necessary to leave our things behind. 

 Sengstacke was not well, and we were not much better, 

 and, as we did not wish to get really ill by remaining in 

 our wet things, we thought it better to hurry on to the 

 ship. 



At eight p.m. on the 15th all was ready for starting, 

 when a snow-storm set in, and we began to think of 

 murdering some of the Boatswain birds (Lestris para- 

 sitica) which were flyiug about us, when Iversen descried 

 a fine reindeer, and a luck shot brought it to the 

 ground. 



At eight a.m. on the 16th we started for our last 

 march ; the snow in Clavering Straits, at which we had 



