me so close together, that the
men could scarcely squeeze between them, and they were obliged to search
for other passages; in doing which, the variation of their compass
confused them. At other times, "a tolerably wide passage would appear
between two bergs, which they would gladly follow; then a narrower one;
then no opening in front, but one to the side. Following that a little
distance, a blank ice-cliff would close the way altogether, and they
were forced to retrace their steps and begin again."

Thus they puzzled their way through, "like a blind man in the streets of
a strange city;" but more difficulties awaited them beyond. After
advancing many miles they were arrested by broad rents in the ice, and
were obliged to diverge frequently far out of their course, or to bridge
the chasms over by cutting down the ice hummocks and filling them up
with loose ice, until the dogs were able to haul the provision-sledge
over.

Advancing thus for several days, and encamping on the snow at night,
they at last came to a spot where the ice was dangerous. "It was weak
and rotten, and the dogs began to tremble." Proceeding at a brisk rate,
they had got upon unsafe ice before they were aware of it. Their course
was at the time nearly up the middle of the channel; but as soon as
possible they turned, and by a backward circuit reached the shore. The
dogs, as their fashion is, at first lay down and refused to proceed,
trembling violently. The only way to induce the terrified, obstinate
brutes to get on, was for Hans to go to a white-looking spot, where the
ice was thicker, the soft stuff looking dark; then calling the dogs
coaxingly by name, they would crawl to him on their bellies. So they
retreated from place to place, until they reached the firm ice they had
quitted. A half mile brought them to comparatively safe ice, a mile
more to good ice again.

In the midst of this danger they had, during the liftings of the fog,
sighted open water. Soon after they saw it plainly. So many long and
dreary months had these men passed since they were gladdened by the
sight of open water, that they could scarcely believe their eyes; and
Morton declared, that but for the birds which were seen flying about it
in great numbers, he would not have believed it.

They made for the land-ice as fast as possible, and quickly gained it;
but the sea-ice had cracked off and sunk so much, that the land-ice
presented a wall along the whole coast