252 
A VOYAGE TO SPITZBERGEN. 
We dared not attempt to descend : such, an attempt 
was certain to end fatally. What could we do ? In 
a moment we were resolved. Close by was a glacier; 
once on that we would be safe. Some way—we 
know no way of explaining how—we got there in 
time to escape from the pressing danger, and in time 
to watch the flight of missiles shot out by the moun¬ 
tain. It resembled in sound a continued cannonade, 
while the din lasted; and then the noise and clatter 
as suddenly stopped, and the old silence once more 
reigned on the mountain side—a silence only dis¬ 
turbed by the trickling noise of the mountain stream. 
Now we determined to advance in silence; not a 
word was spoken. If we required to communicate 
our wishes we made signs to one another, using the 
greatest caution not to disturb the mountain side 
again. Following in single file, one track served 
for both. Here we laboured upwards with difficulty. 
Once, when we found our progress impeded by a 
projecting ledge, we were forced to go down a little 
way, and going down even a little was a work of 
severe toil. After a six hours' climb, we sit quietly 
down for a short rest, and to eat a morsel. A draught 
of the cold pure water was to us most deliciously 
refreshing. Falling in a reverie, I pull unconsciously a 
bit of paper from my pocket, stored as it is with broken 
