262 



NEW LAND. 



we saw a number of dark spots out on the ice, which we took to be 

 seals. There were seals about in all directions, and I did not think 

 anything more of the matter. 



The ice was in a terrible state. On it lay a thick sheet of snow, 

 and the dogs toiled and tugged, with their tongues hanging out of 

 their mouths. There was something curious, too, about the snow ; 

 it looked exactly as if there were water underneath it and water 

 there really was, more and more of it, too. At last we seemed to 

 be driving in nothing but slush ; the sledges sank into it to their 



A FALLEN GIANT. 



beds ; and I now discovered that the black specks were not seals 

 lying on the ice, but eider-ducks swimming in the water! I 

 turned in a little towards land, but then noticed that the snow we- 

 were driving on began to crinkle up in a most remarkable manner, 

 as if there were movement in it, and then suddenly it dawned 

 upon me that the ice was gone in many places, and that we were 

 surrounded by slush, which was bubbling up and down in the 

 tearing current ! In truth a pleasing discovery. 



Here had we been within an ace of going to the bottom with 

 all our precious fossils, and I hardly know now how it was we 

 escaped with our lives. We crept inwards towards land, and all 



