GREENLAND BY THE POLAR SEA 



But when things look blackest we generally find the easiest 

 way out. Without unnecessary hesitation Ajako and I seized 

 each other's hands, and thus propping one another up we went 

 out into the water. We got thoroughly wet, but neither of us 

 slipped and fell. This good luck encouraged and strengthened 

 us as much as a good meal could have done. 



On the other bank of the glacier lake we found an absolute 

 stone desert consisting entirely of big loose moraine stones ; a 

 multitude of larger and smaller lakes filled the landscape, which 

 was practically without vegetation, and often we found ourselves 

 forced to keep our direction by making considerable detours. 

 Yet one river we must wade across ; we are now in good prac- 

 tice, and our feet have been wet for these last two or three 

 months ! 



THIRD DAY 



August 27th-28th. — We tried to sleep last night as well as 

 might be, each, as usual, by his stone. But it was almost too 

 cold in our wet clothes, on which the fog settled so that our 

 bodies became quite white with hoar-frost. 



Every time I slept I dreamed about my home. Such 

 dreams, beautiful and pleasant during sleep, are extraordinarily 

 exhausting, for as soon as one wakes up and must turn to, reality 

 always seems doubly rough and hopeless. On the other hand, 

 it arouses such a lively feeling of what is owing to those who are 

 awaiting one's return, that immediately the teeth are clenched 

 and obstinacy is summoned to fight the adversities which are 

 breaking one's strength. 



About seven o'clock the fog lifted somewhat, and at once 

 we got to our feet and turned towards the places where we might 

 find something to eat. A tough will to endure strengthened 

 us both ; although we had tasted no food for nearly two days we 

 did not feel any weakness. 



Every time we pass a deep cleft we spy in vain for a small 

 white dot — a hare. Reindeer we dare no longer hope for. 



Once, as we get a view over an unusually hopeless stone 

 desert, we settle between us that we can manage to continue 

 244 



