152 NEW LAND. 



here it was not difficult to imagine what it would be like inside, 

 and we therefore decided to stay where we were for the present. 

 At nine o'clock the wind went down, and we hastened to get 

 under way. 



We had not been going long before we saw the snow driving 

 inwards again from Store Bjornekap, but happily we had gone so 

 far by that time that we had the wind almost due astern. Not 

 many minutes afterwards a raging storm fell on us from the west. 

 However, things went pretty well up the fjord, inasmuch as we 

 made good progress, but the worst of it was we did not quite 

 know where we were going. Our old camping-ground, where it 

 was our intention to leave the dog-food, was the only place that 

 was at all marked, and that consequently we could hope to find 

 again. But how we were to find our way to it in such weather 

 we knew not ! To our unspeakable astonishment we somehow 

 or other drove straight to the spot, and there got rid of our tin 

 box. Good luck is sometimes better than good management. 



But to make our way across the neck of land in such execrable 

 weather was- easier said than done. However, we made up our 

 minds to go at it as long as it was possible, but after driving for 

 a couple of hours we were stopped by a deep side valley, which 

 completely closed our way. Where we were we had not an idea. 

 All reconnaissance was in vain. Manifestly the best thing for us 

 to do was to camp, and camp we did. 



It was a cold job pitching the tents, but what troubled us 

 most was that there was nothing to which we could secure the dogs. 

 After a deal of trouble we found a drift which was deep enough for 

 us to thrust our ' ski ' into, and in that manner tie up the dogs. 



I had on only ordinary woollen mittens that day, my wolf- skin 

 gloves being carefully packed away in my private bag. The keen 

 wind blew straight through the loose wool, and the snow drifted 

 in, making it impossible for me to keep my hands warm. Camping 

 in weather such as this is anything but a speedy performance, and 

 all the brushing necessary to keep the snow out is not the least 

 part of the trouble. Before the tent was up several of my fingers 

 were entirely frozen, and, what was worse, the back of the hand 

 had also been touched. 



