GREENLAND BY THE POLAR SEA 



spicuous points in the hope of finding beacons, and as we found 

 nothing, we began to believe that they were yet in the fjord. 



We then made for Cape Salor through heavy going, making 

 very slow pace with our overfed dogs and meat-laden sledges. 

 As usual, the snow was soft and wet ; the skis carried us, but 

 the dogs sank through, and generally we found water under the 

 snow. Koch walked a short distance ahead on snowshoes, and 

 we others followed with sledges and dogs. But as he approached 

 Cape Salor he put on greater and greater speed, and we who 

 followed in his tracks could see that his steps became in- 

 creasingly longer. At length, a few kilometres further ahead, 

 we discovered the reason for this sudden hurry, as our comrades' 

 tent suddenly appeared on the utmost headland of Elison 

 Island. We also increased our speed, and off we ploughed 

 through snow and water. With beating hearts we floundered 

 through the slush ; even the dogs caught our eagerness and 

 increased their pace. What news would we find ? Were they 

 yet in possession of the dogs? Or were we confronted with a 

 journey of 1,000 kilometres with three sledges? 



Under these isolated conditions, in the large silent fjords, 

 so far from other men, one forms a society of one's own, where 

 even the smallest occurrence attracts one's attention and be- 

 comes significant. 



No wonder, therefore, that the news we were now racing 

 towards, and which would be so decisive for our arrangements, 

 made us impatient and nervous. For no life was apparent 

 round the tent, although it was our custom, whenever we had 

 been separated for a few days, to celebrate the reunion with 

 shouts and merry gestures. At long last we were relieved as 

 a man appeared outside the tent, flinging his arms out with joy 

 over our arrival. Shouts would reach him. We stopped and 

 for a moment there was a breathless silence. 



' ' How are you ? ' ' 



"All well." 



" How many dogs have you left?" 



"Nine." 



"Have you food?" 

 160 



