OPEN WATER SIGHTED. 183 



induce the terrified, obstinate brutes to get on, was 

 for Hans to go to a white-looking spot, where the 

 ice was thicker, the soft stuff looking dark ; then 

 calling the dogs coaxingly by name, they would 

 crawl to him on their bellies. So they retreated 

 from place to place, until they reached the firm 

 ice they had quitted. A half mile brought them to 

 comparatively safe ice, a mile more to good ice again. 



In the midst of this danger they had, during the 

 liftings of the fog, sighted open water. Soon after 

 they saw it plainly. So many long and dreary 

 months had these men passed since they were 

 gladdened by the sight of open water, that they 

 could scarcely believe their eyes ; and Morton de- 

 clared, that but for the birds which were seen fly- 

 ing about it in great numbers, he would not have 

 believed it. 



They made for the land-ice as fast as possible, 

 and quickly gained it ; but the sea-ice had cracked 

 off and sunk so much, that the land-ice pre- 

 sented a wall along the whole coast of about eight 

 or nine feet high. It was quite perpendicular, in 

 some places overhanging, so that it was a matter of 

 the greatest difficulty they managed to throw up 

 the provisions, clamber up themselves, and haul 

 the dogs and sledge up afterwards. This accom- 

 plished, however, they were safe, and could advance 

 with confidence. But this mass of land-ice be- 

 came narrower as they proceeded, till at last it 

 dwindled to a mere narrow ledge, clinging to the 



