The eastern route they had taken had come to a dead end. With three days walk back to the fork to find Arne Saknussemm's original route, they found their water rations were limited to one day. Knowing their only chance of finding water was on that route, they set off for the fork, and there finally they fell almost lifeless on the third day. After sleep they continued down the other tunnel in
their quest for water, and whilst searching on his own, Hans the guide heard the sound of water thundering behind a granite wall, and with a pick axe attacked the wall so as to allow a stream of boiling water to enter and cool in their tunnel. Not only had they found life in the water, but they had also found a flowing guide to the centre of the earth. They called the stream The Hansbach.