GREENLAND BY THE POLAR SEA 



THE EDGE OF THE INLAND-ICE 

 (588 metres above sea-level). 



August 10th. — We reached the edge of the inland-ice at 

 half -past one, after crossing a last turbulent moraine river which 

 we had to bridge with the sledges. 



This moment, so significant for the expedition, was cele- 

 brated with an additional meal, outside the rations, and an extra 

 strong cup of coffee. 



Dead calm, a clear sky, sun, a temperature of 1° (Cent.), 

 satiated men, sun-gleams in our souls ! 



During the meal we recalled in memory that American 

 National-Economist who proposed that food and not gold 

 should be the standard of value in life. As far as I remember 

 he proposed that edible money should be made out of wheat, 

 for what is a millionaire with all his gold in a desert like this, 

 and what would we be without food? 



CAMP 6.— ON THE INLAND-ICE 



(900 metres above sea-level. Distance, 4 kilometres). 



We make camp at ten o'clock in the morning after the 

 longest day's journey we have had ; 10 kilometres of it went 

 across land bare of snow, wherefore we had to make the distance 

 twice. We got to rest at one o'clock too tired to write. 



We awake at half-past seven. After the rest, the soreness 

 of our bodies is apparent with a vengeance. Our loads had an 

 average weight of 70 to 80 pounds, and we carried them inces- 

 santly from four in the afternoon until one in the morning, 

 when the inland-ice was reached. So to-day every little move- 

 ment is painful, but the sky is clean as newly-fallen snow, not a 

 cloud, beautiful travelling, everything once more ready for a 

 long day's journey homeward, so that we may reach the ship 

 and Denmark before the winter. 



The Midgard Snake now lies far behind us, and the height 

 we have reached assures us that we have passed all difficulties. 

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