Page:Mannering - With axe and rope in the New Zealand Alps.djvu/120

82 the moraine, lay the clear ice of the Murchison, and far, far away northwards, the valley extended completely filled with a magnificent mer de glace of pure white ice. We stood transfixed, for none of us had imagined that such a grand glacier lay beyond.

Now we saw what was before us, and for a longtime debated as to our ability to face the work ahead.

Hamilton was shockingly out of condition, and a sinew in my leg was becoming painful, Nature at last rebelling against the strain to which she was being subjected. We had a very scanty supply of provisions, and evidently it meant spending another night out if we proceeded.

The temptation was too much for us. We could not let this prize slip through our fingers, so we decided to go on and put ourselves on starvation rations rather than turn. Away we struck over the moraine, and in an hour's time reached the clear ice, here much crevassed. Crossing with some difficulty we lunched on the eastern side. Casting our eyes backward we could see splendidly all the fine peaks we had been passing under, and could observe the continuation of the range north eastwards with five or six more branch glaciers, the final one northward leading to a snowfield with a saddle at its head. This, then, must be our saddle, we thought. But it seemed hopeless to cross it in our tired condition and with our heavy swags.

We set our teeth, however, and went doggedly forward, striking out on to the clear ice again and making a north-easterly course, at each step realising