334 FARTHEST NORTH 



we must be nearer the edge of the glacier than ever, 

 and with fresh courage, and in the faint hope of reach- 

 ing land that day, we started on our journey. Yet we 

 dared not think our life on the drift-ice was so nearly 

 at an end. After wandering about on it for five months 

 and suffering so many disappointments, we were only 

 too well prepared for a new defeat. We thought, how- 

 ever, that the ice looked more promising farther on, 

 though before we had oone far we came to broad lanes 

 full of slush and foul, uneven ice, with hills and dales, 

 and deep snow and water, into which we sank up to our 

 thighs. After a couple of lanes of this kind, matters im- 

 proved a little, and we got on to some flat ice. After 

 having gone over this for a while, it became apparent 

 how much nearer we were to the edge of the glacier. 

 It could not possibly be far off now. We eagerly har- 

 nessed ourselves to the sledges again, put on a spurt, 

 and away we went through snow and water, over mounds 

 and ridiies. We went as hard as we could, and what 

 did we care if we sank into water till far above our fur 

 leggings, so that both they and our ' komager ' filled and 

 gurgled like a pump 1 What did it matter to us now, so 

 long as we got on.^ 



'' We soon reached plains, and over them we went 

 quicker and quicker. We waded through ponds where 

 the spray flew up on all sides. Nearer and nearer we 

 came, and by the dark water -sky before us, which con- 

 tinually rose higher, we could see how we were drawing 



