In the Great White Land by Gordon Stables

And what a scene it was too.

Down below to the left was the still slumbering camp; the middle distance was the eternal snow guarded by its hills, then came the sea-beach, shingly now. They could even see their ships, next the dark blue sea dotted or flecked with the white bergs big and small.

But on that sea-beach, when they drew it a little nearer by means of their telescopes, what a scene of life and love and happiness!

The denizens of air and sea were all awake and busy. They could see seals diving and swimming or basking in the sun, flocks of bright-winged gulls, and penguins bustling about in every direction.

There was nothing but joy yonder. No attempt to solve the infinite, or pluck from Heaven its greatest secrets.

Yonder was contentment unalloyed.

And there was sunshine over all; it glimmered in the sea in radiance sublime, it spangled the snow and seemed to turn it into diamonds, it filled earth and air, and best of all it filled the hearts of the lonely beholders, till they were fain to smile at their recent gloom.

"A glorious scene, Curtis!"

"A glorious scene, Ingomar! That is our last look at the sea for a time, but not for ever. Oh, no, not for ever!"

Then down they came from the mount, with faces a-shine in the gladsome air.

That day's journey was scarcely so long. The sun was resplendent, and at the evening meal every one was happy and cheerful. Nay, but hopeful in the extreme.

"I drink your healths in coffee, gentlemen, and may the united British and American flags float in the future over every land and sea in all the world. We're bound for the end of the world, the place where people jump off, you know, and I am not so very sure we shan't eventually reach it. But we mean to return without jumping off."

And every one only spoke the feelings that were within him.

Coffee generally makes people wakeful. It does not if taken in the Arctic or Antarctic. It makes one contented and happy, and even if drunk last thing at night in this pure life-giving air, you get sleepy as soon as you have wriggled into your bag, and doze off almost, though not quite, before you have said your prayers. Still you have no fear. Somehow there seems to be a protecting Power around you.

"Oh, watch ye well by daylight, / For angels watch at night."

Before ten days of travel had been accomplished the country had grown very wild indeed, the mountains high and rugged, some volcanic, while many of the valleys they felt they must negotiate were in places half choked with ice-boulders.

They seemed indeed to be glaciers that had been shaken and shattered by earthquake or volcanic force. But this was merely conjecture. At all events it made the progress extremely slow and hard.

The sledges had often to be unpacked and the parcels carried on the ponies' backs and on those of the good Yak-Yaks quite over the obstructions. The animals of course had little difficulty in getting over the obstacles, but often it fell to the lot of the men to lift and carry the empty sledges.

In clear weather, and it was mostly clear, the plan of getting high up on to some hill was constantly adopted, in order to find out the most likely route.

This was not an agreeable duty, wild and weird although the scenery was. But it was one that usually fell to the lot of Slap-dash himself and one of his men.