198 FARTHEST NORTH 



" Our life, however, was soon embittered by open 

 water-ways. By means of a circuitous route, and the 

 expenditure of much valuable time, we at last suc- 

 ceeded in cfettino: over them. Then came lontr stretches 

 of good ice, and we went cheerfully on our way ; by- 

 and-bye, too, the sun peeped out. It is wonderful what 

 such encouragement does for one. A little while ago, 

 when I was ploughing alongside a horrible lane, through 

 rubble and over ridges, without a sign of any means of 

 getting on, I was ready to sink from exhaustion at every 

 step; no pleasure then could compare with that of being 

 able to crawl into the bag; and now, when luck again 

 sheds her smiles on one and progress is before one, all 

 weariness is suddenly dissipated. 



" Durino' the nicrht the ice bes^an to be bad in earnest, 

 lane after lane, the one worse than the other, and they 

 were only overcome by deviations and intricate by-ways. 

 It was terrible work, and when the wind increased to a 

 good ' mill-breeze ' matters became desperate. This is in- 

 deed toil without ceasing ; what would I not give to have 

 land, to have a certain way before me, to be able to 

 reckon on a certain day's march, and be free from this 

 never-ending anxiety and uncertainty about the lanes. No- 

 body can tell how much trouble they may yet cause us, 

 and what adversities we may have to go through before 

 we reach land ; and meanwhile the dogs are diminishing 

 steadily. They haul all they can, poor things, but what 

 good does it do ? I am so tired that I stagger on my 



