A HARD STRUGGLE 197 



was hardly desirable, as packing might take place, but 

 we had no choice ; it was the only lee to be found. Be- 

 fore I went to sleep the ice under us began to creak, and 

 soon the pressure-ridge behind us was packing with the 

 well-known jerks. I lay listening and wondering whether 

 it would be better for us to turn out before the ice-blocks 

 came tumbling on to us, but as I lay listening went fast 

 asleep and dreamed about an earthquake. When I woke 

 up again, some hours afterwards, everything was quiet 

 except the wind, which howled and rattled at the tent 

 walls, lashing the snow up against them. 



"Yesterday evening ' Potifar ' was killed. We have 

 now sixteen dogs left; the numbers are diminishing hor- 

 ribly, and it is still so far to land. If only we were there ! 



" Saturday, May 4th. Did fourteen miles yesterday ; 

 but the lanes become worse and worse. When wt got 

 under way in the afternoon — after having reloaded my 

 sledge and kayak, and readjusted the dunnage under 

 Johansen's kayak — the wind had fallen, and it was snow- 

 ing quietly and silently, with big Hakes, just as it does 

 on a winter day at home. It was bad in one way, how- 

 ever, as in such a light it is difficult to see if the lay of 

 the ground is against or with us ; but the going was fairly 

 good, and we made progress. It was heavenly to work 

 in this mild weather, + 1 1.8° Fahr. (-11.3^ C), and be 

 able to use one's frost-bitten hands bare, without suffer- 

 ing torture untold every time they came in contact with 

 anything. 



