IN THE INTERIOR OF GREENLAND 



Then the whole party crawled into this shelter, and, packed in 

 their sleeping-bags like so many cold-storage sardines, slept 

 for about nine hours. Outside, each husky dug a circular hole 

 in the snow and curled up in a furry ball, with its nose and feet 

 protected beneath its body and bushy tail. After a refresh- 

 ing sleep we breakfasted, packed the sledges, and started tow- 

 ard the land. There were several hours of travelling before 

 the peaks along Olrik's Bay appeared over the horizon of white 

 snow. By this time they seemed like old friends welcoming 

 ■us back to more cheerful surroundings. 



For the last few miles at this place the ice-cap sloped quite 

 perceptibly toward the land, and we all took this occasion to 

 take off our snow-shoes and climb upon the sledges. At first 

 the dogs pulled the heavily laden sledges along at a good 

 speed, but as the sleds gained momentum the dogs were soon 

 running parallel to us, and ended up by falling behind and being 

 dragged in a harness-entangled and fighting mass. When we 

 loosed the thongs they righted themselves after a few short 

 fights, and, loping behind, overtook us by the time we reached 

 the rocks of the moraine. Having travelled for several miles 

 over a very broken country, we finally camped in a wide, stony 

 valley, where we finished what little food remained and had a 

 good sleep. From this spot it took us a day to get to the shores 

 •of the bay, across which we could discern the welcome sight of 

 our white r8 by 20 tent, and the smaller, conical tupiks of our 

 Eskimo friends. 



