CHAPTER XI 



THE HOMEWARD JOURNEY ACROSS THE 

 INLAND-ICE 



CAMP 1.— DANIEL BRUTTN GLACIER 



AUGUST 4th-5th. — Fortunately we had gradually carried 

 up so much baggage to the edge of the glacier that the 

 "remainder could be taken in one load. The distance from 

 the river to the sledges was 7 kilometres, which we covered in 

 five hours. I must admit that none of us is in the condition in 

 which he ought to be when he faces a walk of 400 kilometres. 

 Especially Wulff and Koch are very tired after the compara- 

 tively quick walk and complain of the smallness of the food 

 ration which, because of our critical situation, I had been forced 

 to distribute to the expedition. But they fully agree with me 

 as to the necessity for this temporary period of starvation. We 

 are now in possession of provision, divided in half -rations, for 

 twenty days, besides musk-ox meat and some blubber and seal 

 meat reserved for the dogs. 



Because of the strenuous march upward we therefore cook 

 not merely a panful of oat-gruel, but also a solid meal of seal 

 meat. The pemmican is not yet touched, although the tempta- 

 tion is great ; we must economize, for the position is not with- 

 out seriousness. We must remember that it was only from a 

 distant height that we had a view of the homeward route which, 

 so far, has led us to this place ; only in a couple of days will it 

 be proved whether we are on the main glacier itself. Because 

 of the weather, we had had to abandon any thought of recon- 

 noitring during the time we spent by the great river. 



We ascended Daniel Bruun Glacier at a steepish point, and 

 after a march of 2 kilometres we had reached a height of some 

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