158 SNOW FORCED IN BY GALE. [November. 



which puzzled me. The standard barometer, previously 

 coaxed into the performance of its duty, was evidently 

 damaged, and the snow prevented any force being used 

 to open the door. The mercurial column had fallen be- 

 low any rational range, and I was therefore prepared for 

 the worst. On brushing off the snow I was satisfied 

 that either the concussion of forcing the door (by Mr. 

 Nobody), or the snow getting between it and the tube, 

 had strained it near the cistern, a portion of the mercury 

 escaped, and it was rendered useless. Brushing the 

 snow off each, I had to congratulate myself, on quitting 

 this chamber of horrors, that I had lost but one instru- 

 ment, and that was one in which I never had confidence, 

 for it lost mercury before leaving England. But the 

 pressure of the gale had been so heavy, that every pos- 

 sible crevice, by which air could enter, was beautifully 

 fringed by deposits of impalpable snow-wreaths. These 

 hints were not lost, and the proper remedies applied. 



