CHAPTER XVIII. 



TO SKAAKEFJOKD. 



WITH a southerly wind and clear atmosphere, we set out on the 

 sound next day on our way up the fjord. The pace was pretty 

 good, and on reaching the fjord we came on to hard snow, and had 

 the wind behind us. 



We camped that day at a little spit of land, whence we meant 

 to take observations ; and Schei thought it would also be of 

 interest to examine the country rather more closely. 



When we had seen to the dogs we accordingly went together 

 up on to the point, and at once came across a number of ruins 

 from former habitation. We then walked on through a little 

 valley, which the wind had swept almost bare of snow. We found 

 quite abundant vegetation, saw some nights of sandpipers, and 

 came on the tracks of numerous polar cattle. 



Having so much to carry, we had taken with us only one gun, 

 and, as usual when Schei and I were out together, Schei was the 

 shot. After following the bottom of the valley lor a time, we 

 struck up the north side of it, but in order to ascend this, we had 

 to climb a steep drift. I began to do this, but found it so hard 

 and steep that it was almost impossible to get a foothold, and in 

 the end I was reduced to cutting steps with my knife. 



At last I reached the top, where I waited for' Schei, who had 

 found an easier way a little farther up the valley. As I was 

 standing there, I heard something that sounded like a sneeze. 

 Then again the same noise. There seemed to be a great deal of 

 sneezing going on, and thinking it was Schei, I turned round 

 towards him to see what could be the matter. But then I heard 

 the same sound again, and this time so plainly that there was no 



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