CHAPTER X 



SHERARD OSBORNE FJORD TO ST. GEORGE 



FJORD 



ACROSS SHERARD OSBORNE FJORD FOR THE LAST TIME 



IV T OT without sadness do we take leave of this little valley 

 I A where both men and dogs have had four glorious rest days. 

 We all have a feeling that in front of us lies a fight for 

 life which will require all our strength. 



We cannot take with us much meat of the eleven oxen killed in 

 this place. We have carried down to the sledges twenty -four 

 shoulders and legs, which for human consumption would go 

 rather a long way, but as dog food it is too lean to last out well. 

 We cannot take more than this quantity, for, as the load con- 

 sists of other things as well, it would be quite impossible for us 

 to pull heavier sledges out of the many water-filled holes which 

 we shall pass. Furthermore, the temperature in the valley was 

 so high that it was impossible for us to keep the meat fresh. 

 Enormous swarms of bluebottles literally shot up from the soil 

 and laid their eggs everywhere on the meat. A skinned piece 

 which is put aside will in a few seconds be entirely covered with 

 flies. So quickly do the eggs develop that the fat and dis- 

 gusting maggots pour out of the eyeholes of the killed animals. 

 Also the solid meat is destroyed in the same way ; but fortun- 

 ately it is not a great quantity which is being wasted, as from 

 the very outset we overfed our dogs, and we also have had as 

 many meals as we could possibly get down. 



All our energy is now bent towards the crossing of Sherard 

 Osborne Fjord, however heavy and difficult the going may 

 prove. For now we want to get home. The day before yes- 

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