316 NEW LAND. 



it had probably died a lingering death of starvation. What indeed 

 could a reindeer live on out on this limestone island ? 



From St. Helena next day we sailed north to ' Kobbebugten ' 

 (Seal Bay). Here, and at several places farther north, near 

 Hell Gate, we helped ourselves largely to fossils. It really did 

 not much matter where we landed in Hell Gate, we made good 

 collections everywhere. At one place where there was a large 

 choice, we laid the stones in a heap and fetched them on our way 

 back. All the treasures which Schei found at our next quarters 

 on Spaekodden he packed in a box, which we left there with 

 the sledge. 



Northerly winds now set in, and it takes less than that to 

 make it all but impossible to work up against the current in Hell 

 Gate. Nor do the great masses of drift-ice, which come sailing 

 south, improve matters. We had to arrange to take our rest when 

 wind and current were at their worst, and be careful to make what 

 progress we could when it was possible so to do. Three or four 

 miles south of Land's End, we had to wait for a day till the north 

 wind had blown itself out, and used up its temporary store of 

 snow and sleet. 



On August 6, at about four in the morning, the ice began to 

 slacken towards the west, and there seemed to be a great amount 

 of open water in that direction. Snow and mist prevented us 

 from seeing our way ; but, despite this, we rowed towards the west, 

 and really reached open water. Then we hoisted sail, and stood 

 north from ice-point to ice-point. 



But just north of the sound the ice-masses stopped us 

 altogether. We had no choice but to go ashore. This, however, 

 was easier said than done. For long distances together the boat 

 had to be dragged from floe to floe ; and it was a relief when at 

 times we could pull it along betwixt the rocking fragments. We 

 reached land a little north of Fourth Camp. 



August 6 was the day on which we were to meet Schei at 

 Xordstrand. We pitched the tent in a hurry, had some food, and 

 I went off. On the way I saw two reindeer. This meant making 

 a firm stand. It was Simmons I had to get hold of, and not the 

 reindeer. Up at Nordstrand doubtless sat virtue, in the shape of 



