JV£ PREPARE EOR THE SLEDGE EXPEDITION 21 



narrower for a great distance to the west. Now, when 

 one bears in mind that the lane behind us is also of 

 considerable width, it is rather consoling, after all, to 

 think that the ice does permit of such large openings. 

 There must be room enough to drift, if we only get wind 

 — wind which will never come. On the whole, November 

 has been an uncommonly wretched month. Driven back 

 instead of forward — and yet this month was so good last 

 year. But one can never rely on the seasons in this 

 dreadful sea; taking all in all, perhaps, the winter will not 

 be a bit better than the summer. Yet, it surely must 

 improve — I cannot believe otherwise. 



" The skies are clouded with a thick veil, through 

 which the stars barely glisten. It is darker than usual, 

 and in this eternal night we drift about, lonely and for- 

 saken, ' for the whole world was filled with a shining 

 light and undisturbed activity. Above those men alone 

 brooded nought but depressing night — an image of that 

 gloom which was soon to swallow them up.' 



"This dark, deep, silent void is like the mysterious, un- 

 fathomable well into which you look for that something 

 which you think must be there, only to meet the retiec- 

 tion of your own eyes. Ugh! the worn-out thoughts you 

 can never get rid of become in the end very wearisome 

 company. Is there no means of fleeing from one's self, 

 to grasp one single thought — only a single one, which 

 lies outside one's self — is there no way except death .-^ 

 But death is certain ; one day it will come, silent and 



