THE WHITE WORLD 



fifteen miles away limiting the view in that direction. Be- 

 tween it and our position were three sharp, angular capes 

 of striking appearance and apparently separated by deep 

 fiords extending to the southeast. 



In the interior, which was subsequently named by Lieu- 

 tenant Greely " Nares Land," could be seen to the extreme 

 range of our vision a confused mass of snow-covered peaks 

 towering high above our position on Britannia, and from 

 among this frozen chaos an occasional glacier of moderate 

 size struggling toward the sea. To the north and west 

 nothing but the polar pack was visible. At this time a 

 high wind, laden with the icy breath of countless winters, 

 came sweeping over us and cut short our observations. 

 Constructing a small cairn in which Lockwood deposited a 

 record, we then returned to the tent we had pitched on the 

 ice foot. 



During our absence, Frederik had shot a ptarmigan, and 

 we found fresh traces of foxes, hares, and lemming. Indi- 

 cations that musk oxen had at one time visited these regions 

 were also observed. After obtaining a much-needed rest 

 we again set our faces toward the north and with buoyant 

 hearts advanced into the new regions. 



In passing from one point to another along that unex- 

 plored coast, both Lockwood and myself felt an exhilaration 

 we had never before experienced. When rounding a cape 

 we were possessed with feverish impatience to see what was 

 beyond, and in our own excitement could hardly understand 

 Frederik's lack of enthusiasm. While he was an excellent 

 man in every respect, and thoroughly devoted to our in- 

 terests, he utterly failed to comprehend our object in trav- 

 eling about in those inhospitable regions, subjecting our- 

 selves to almost incredible hardships, when we could have 

 remained at home where there were warmth, shelter, and 

 an abundance of food. 



As we pushed northward the temperature gradually rose, 

 owing to the advancing season, and when the highest point 

 was reached our thermometer registered +14. This high 

 temperature soon denuded the dark surface of the cliffs of 

 their winter's covering and the snow on the ice foot became 

 damp and soft, thus rendering traveling much more diffi- 

 cult; but on the other hand the absence of the keen cold 



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