HEUREKA ! 191 



The ice improved by degrees, and near the headland on the 

 west side, where it was bright and slippery, we went a splendid 

 pace. Under the lee of a big pressure-ridge, which stretched from 

 the cape right across the sound, we made our midday halt. There 

 also I decided to leave behind our wooden runners and a box of 

 dog-food containing one hundred and eight rations. 



We now set the course on a high bluish-black precipitous 

 promontory which we saw to the north, and which we called 

 ' Blaamanden,' or ' The Blue Man.' From some way out on the 

 sound we saw that west of Depotodden a fjord cut into the land, 

 in a southerly direction, but for how great a distance we could 

 not say, as the land to the south was so low. 



*/ ' 



We had had a fresh breeze all day, and when we camped in 

 the evening out in the middle of the sound, we were even more 

 fully alive to the fact. Taking our observations was not pleasant 

 work that evening, and one need not be extra tender for one's 

 fingers to feel cold in such circumstances. Next morning we went 

 on in the usual way, paying a short visit, however, to a largish 

 iceberg a little way south of Blaamanden. It was one of the 

 usual bear outlooks, and the snow round it was cut up just as 

 in a market-place. We agreed that the first party to pass it on 

 the way south should leave a letter near the iceberg. 



A little north of this spot a high pressure -ridge tried to bar 

 our way; it lay right across the sound, but we soon found a 

 reasonably easy passage across it, and discovered at the same time 

 that a pack of wolves, ten or twelve in number, had just passed 

 that way. We then pushed on at a good pace northwards on the 

 slippery ice ; but, farther north, so much sand had been blown on 

 to it that our progress was impeded. At noon we stopped to 

 take a meridian altitude, and, as Fosheim and I had much to talk 

 over before we parted company, both in regard to the surveying 

 and other things, we pitched the tents at once. 



We held a council in the afternoon, took observations, and 

 indulged in a little conviviality, being invited by Fosheim and the 

 mate to coffee and liqueur brandy in their tent. A single bottle 

 for the whole season was not very much to draw upon regard- 

 lessly, but they were liberal to the last, and declared that they 



