GREENLAND BY THE POLAR SEA 



stop, make him a strong cup of tea, and refreshed by this once 

 more he quickly continues in good spirits. But he is as thin as a 

 skeleton and the expression in his eyes becomes weaker and 

 weaker. As long as we had the small rations of pemmican and 

 Avena oats he kept up surprisingly well and nearly always was 

 to be found with the foremost. But apparently he cannot 

 digest the dog-flesh, and he gives away the better part of his 

 ration in spite of our protestations. The rest of us can manage 

 for a few days more. If only the visibility were better — we are 

 really quite close to land ! 



After short, refreshing sleeps I start up to look at the 

 weather — I have merely to put my eye to the canvas, which is 

 full of holes — but every time I meet only the same heavy fog 

 and sleet ; only the uncanny rush of rivers can be heard around us. 



At length weariness overcomes my watchfulness, and I sink 

 into a good sound sleep, during which my dreams, as is usual at 

 this time, carry me away from the seriousness of the moment 

 and towards the longings which alone prevent me from falling 

 into complete exhaustion. When I wake up it is beautiful 

 weather ; the fog has lifted and the sky seems to be clearing up. 

 I arouse my comrades and make a cup of tea. Then at half- 

 past nine in the morning we start. We speed ahead as well as 

 we can with our sledges and our goods, and after a good hour's 

 walk we sight the land towards which we are rushing. • We 

 keep our constant course straight on to it ; many details are now 

 visible and the distance cannot be great — perhaps merely a good 

 six miles. The distance is nothing, but the great rivers may 

 prove severe obstacles in our way. It may take us several days 

 yet in the worst case, but only a few hours if we are in luck and 

 do not meet with difficulties when we descend. 



Our excitement is intense. Every hill of the glacier which 

 we ascend gives us a sure view of the land ; then the fog once 

 more rolls up from the horizon in the west, and in a few minutes 

 the land we are steering towards has disappeared in grey banks 

 of fog. 



Once more we must stop and sit inactive on our sledge, 

 hungry as wolves. What good is it to sit here in glorious sun- 

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