of pack was observed. When the sun sank lower, the bergs on the northern
horizon were refracted up to such a degree that they appeared to be
hanging from the sky.

The aid rendered by the sail under the influence of a fair breeze was
well shown on the following day. In four hours, on a good surface, both
sledges were transported seven miles. When we moved off, the wind was
blowing at ten to fifteen miles an hour. By 10 A.M. the sky became
overcast and the wind freshened. Camp was pitched for lunch at 11 A.M.,
as we hoped that the weather would clear again later, but the wind
increased and snow began to fall heavily in the afternoon, so we did
not stir. The storm continued throughout the following day and it was
impossible to march until the 15th.

Continuing the ascent on the 16th out of a valley we had crossed on
the previous day, we halted on the top of a ridge within view of German
"territory"--a small, dark object bearing due west, evidently bare rock
and presumably Gaussberg. The course was altered accordingly towards
this object and everything went smoothly for ten miles. Then followed
an area where the ice fell steeply in waves to the sea, crossed by
crevasses which averaged fifty feet in width. The snow-bridges were
deeply concave, and the lower side of each chasm was raised into a ridge
five to ten feet high. Making fast the alpine rope on to the sledges,
one of us went ahead to test the bridge, and then the sledges, one at a
time, were rushed down into the trough and up on the other side. After
crossing ten or more crevasses in this fashion, we were forced to camp
by the approach of a rapidly moving fog driven before a strong westerly
wind. While camp was being prepared, it was discovered that a tin of
kerosene on the front sledge had been punctured causing the loss of a
gallon of fuel. Fortunately, we were well within our allowance, so the
accident was not serious. Soon after tea our attention was drawn to a
pattering on the tent like rain, caused by a fall of sago snow.

In the morning the weather was clearer, and we saw that it was
impossible to reach Gaussberg by a direct route. The ice ahead was cleft
and split in all directions, and, in places, vertical faces stood up
to a height of one hundred feet. The floe was littered with hundreds of
bergs, and in several localities there were black spots which resembled
small rocks, but it was impossible to approach close enough to be
certain. Retracing the way