The water over which I had just come was open no more. As far as I could see there was a mass - of moving ice, in which the strongest ship that was every built could not have lived; and here was I.

A path had been made for me, and I had passed safely through to this strange, new land lying, I was sure, close to the Pole. For me there was no retreat. I would have to move upward and over the mountain if I moved at all.

What I had saved from the boat was not much. There was a good sized bag of provisions, a small keg with a little water in, a bundle of blankets and my travelers grip. It was to stay with me it seems and I picked it up on my third and last visit to the boat (and glad I am that it was rescued) or this precious paper that I am writing on would not have been at my service, besides a number of other priceless articles - priceless now, though a few months ago worth a few cents only.

I took a blanket from the bundle and wrapped in it provisions to last a week. Tying it around with a piece of rope, I slung the pack over my shoulders. I, no doubt, looked like another Christian fleeing from a city of destruction to another Holy City. If so, these were the Delectable mountains of rest and from which I would see the place of rest and peace so... ran my thoughts for a time.

For many hours I traveled. The hills were not steep in places, and I chose the gradual ascents. For a long distance up I could see that the ice had been there, polishing the rocks into smooth, rounded surfaces.

At this time I made a guess at direction and placed my watch at twelve o'clock noon. I could see that the sun was sinking nearer the horizon. It must have been nearly the close of the month of August.

The bare hills stretched northward as far as I could see. All the first day I traveled at a good rate, and then rested for a few hours near a pool of water in the rocks. Then on I went again over one hill and then another. As I advanced, I saw that there were signs of soil and vegetation, and this gave me courage. The next stopping place I spread my blanket on some soft-mosslike grass and slept well. Again, the next day I went on. The air was quite warm, so much so I had to take off my coat and place it on my bundle.

Though it appeared to me that I was traveling upward, the effect on me was quite the reverse. The air seemed much heavier, and warmer it certainly became. Now there was an abundance of grass and moss, and as I went on, small bushes appeared. There were birds in the air, but I saw no living creature on the earth.

On the evening of the fourth day of my walk, I was quite tired. I had found no water all day, and I had decided that I would have to make a "dry camp" that night. The hills seemed to have fallen away towards the north, as I could see none beyond the elevation just in front of me. I struggled on to the summit of the ridge, where lo! the hills were gone and before me lay a large open plain or valley.

The prospect appeared to me as an immense basin. I could see down, down into its depths and perceived that my journey would be downward for a long distance. I had learned at school that the earth was flattened at the Poles, but here it appeared that this flattening had assumed a CONCAVE surface. If so, the earth's surface here would be near the great central heat, thus greatly tempering the climate. I could also see that the rays of the sun would fall much more vertically on the sloping sides of this basin, than on the level land.

I could see no signs of habitation near at hand, but the distance was dim with a faint haze which might be smoke. If there was smoke, there was fire, and if fire, man, in some stage of civilization. Certainly if the country over which I was looking remained as green and inviting as it did then for a few months in the year, it would support human life. This I must find out, and as soon as possible.

A short distance down the slope I found a spring of water at which I quenched my thirst, and then went on. I followed the streamlet from the spring, but I found that it soon sank into the earth and disappeared. This, I found, was true of all the streams which I saw. The earth seemed to be extremely porous, and although there was plenty of moisture in the ground, it did not accumulate into any large streams.

Then I rested again. Once more I would sleep and get strength, for on the morrow I must find human aid if I was to prolong my existence. I ate sparingly of my food for fear that it would not last until I could get some more. As I wrapped myself in my blanket and lay down on a grassy bank, the sun sailed around to the north, but it did not penetrate the land lying in the depths below, so that I could see any distinct forms. Then thought I, what if there were no human habitations of this land. How long could I live on the vegetable and animal life which I might find. Were I another Robinson Crusoe, greatly handicapped? Thinking about these things I dropped asleep.