Chapter XVIII: Over Polar Seas of Mystery 260

THE MADDENING TORTURES OF A WORLD WHERE ICE WATER SEEMS HOT,
AND COLD KNIVES BURN ONE'S HANDS--ANGUISHED PROGRESS ON THE
LAST STRETCH OF TWO HUNDRED MILES OVER ANCHORED LAND ICE--
DAYS OF SUFFERING AND GLOOM--THE TIME OF DESPAIR--"IT IS
WELL TO DIE," SAYS AH-WE-LAH; "BEYOND IS IMPOSSIBLE"