3 o ICE-BOUND ON KOLGUEV 



running about east by north, up which we steamed for 

 some eleven miles. At <S a.m. this lead came unfortunately 

 to an end, and we had to go north-west once more. 



At one time indeed it looked very much as if, with all 

 oar trouble gone for nothing, we should have to put 

 about and run back for our first entry. By good chance, 

 however, things turned out better than that. 



After a while we found ourselves opposed only by a thin 

 line of very loose and open ice. This was the tail end — 

 so to say — of the big ice-field on our port side, which 

 draggled out as the main body went floating to the west. 

 How far north-west this pack extended we could not 

 even guess. But across the open water to the north of 

 us the ice-blink was steadily shining ; so we knew that 

 not very far ahead the enemy would be found again. 

 But we were not fated to encounter it. 



Among the links of loose ice there were many pieces 

 quite big enough to damage us very badly if we had met 

 them fair ; but by slowing down the engines until we had 

 but just enough pressure on to keep us creeping, we 

 were able to worm our way through — stopping the 

 engines altogether now and then, or reversing as it 

 became necessary either to try and negative the impact 

 of a block or to retreat from it altogether. 



At noon it was glorious sunshine, and we were able to 

 get good sights. This north-westerly point of the eastern 

 pack which we had rounded was as near as possible in 

 69 16' N. 



