If we go on we may have hope if we choose, but if we land here we shall lose even that.

Can we hope for anything from such things as these?
Even if they prove friendly, can we live among them?
To stay here is worse than death; our only hope is to go on." Agnew made no reply, and we drifted on for two hours, still followed by the natives.

They made no hostile demonstrations.

They merely watched us, apparently from motives of curiosity.

All this time we were drawing steadily nearer to the line of lofty mountains, which with their icy crests rose before us like an inaccessible and impassable barrier, apparently closing up all farther progress; nor was there any indication of any pass or any opening, however narrow, through which the great stream might run.