THE SHIP AT LAST 419 



We had to work desperately hard with that cargo to 

 save it, and I feared that the boat would be smashed 

 upon the rocks before the meat could be landed in 

 safety, though it was finally accomplished without 

 mishap. Snow was now so deep that no rocks could 

 be found with which to cover the cache and we had to 

 leave it piled up unprotected. 



It was a long hard row back to Etah directly 

 against a strong head wind. The sky was now over- 

 cast, and the weather so cold and raw that before we 

 had covered half the eighteen miles I resigned the 

 steering-oar to Portlooner that I might pull with the 

 others to get warm. 



We were treated upon this journey to the wonder- 

 ful and awe-inspiring spectacle of numerous turning 

 icebergs. Massive pieces, weighing many tons, were 

 breaking from the bergs with reports like sharp 

 thunder-claps, and as they dropped into the sea small 

 tidal waves were created. This changed the equilib- 

 rium of the bergs, and occasionally one turned partly 

 over with a loud roar and tremendous upheaval of 

 water. Far away we could hear the icebergs splitting 

 and turning with a noise like distant rolling thunder. 

 This happened to one large iceberg within ten minutes 

 after we had passed close to it, and the Eskimos were 

 deeply impressed by our narrow escape from being 

 swamped. For a long time they talked of it and 

 discussed the occurrence, declaring that they would 

 keep well clear of bergs thereafter. At this season 

 of the year, under certain weather conditions, icebergs 

 turn frequently. One can never tell when they may 



