BLAAMANDEN AND BAY FJORD. 



385 



farther and farther from land, and it was not until we were 

 stopped by some drifts that we were able to control the sledges. 

 But here was a pretty state of affairs ; how were we to bear up 

 towards land again ? Here and there across the ice lay small 

 snow-drifts, and the only thing we could do was to coast inwards 

 from drift to drift. It was only occasionally that we could get a 

 purchase on the ice with our feet, and more than once we had 

 such a narrow shave that I thought we should not reach land. 



THE 'FRAM' IN HER LAST WINTER QUARTERS. 



We arrived there, however, at last; though our tribulations 

 were not ended therewith. Farther south we found ourselves in a 

 quantity of sharp sand and pebbles, which was hardly the sort of 

 going for German silver. We were extremely careful, but still we 

 rubbed holes in the plates, and had to repair them before we could 

 go farther. Later in the afternoon we camped in a sheltered bay, 

 where we were at peace both from loose and drifting snow. We 

 had a lovely day there, and could enjoy to the full the mild 

 brilliant weather. We tinkered at the repairs and improved on 

 them a little, broke up again in the afternoon, and pitched our tent 



VOL. II. 2 C 



