of 



and I grabbed in vain at the few icy projections. 

 Scotch also lost his footing and was sliding and 

 rolling about, and the wind was hurrying us 

 along, when I threw myself flat and dug at the 

 ice with fingers and toes. In the midst of my 

 unsuccessful efforts we were brought to a sudden 

 stop by the rope between us catching over a 

 small rock-point that was thrust up through the 

 ice. Around this in every direction was smooth, 

 sloping ice; this, with the high wind, made me 

 wonder for a moment how we were to get safely 

 off the slope. The belt axe proved the means, 

 for with it I reached out as far as I could and 

 chopped a hole in the ice, while with the other 

 hand I clung to the rock-point. Then, returning 

 the axe to my belt, I caught hold in the chopped 

 place and pulled myself forward, repeating this 

 until on safe footing. 



In oncoming darkness and whirling snow I 

 had safely rounded the ends of two gorges and 

 was hurrying forward over a comparatively 

 level stretch, with the wind at my back boosting 

 along. Scotch was running by my side and evi- 

 dently was trusting me to guard against all 



