22 POSITION OF THERMOMETERS. \0ctob&r t 



them from the main body of the crew, will, should this 

 second winter produce more serious cases, afford an im- 

 mediate and available hospital. Up to this date, but 

 four of the crews, amounting to ninety-one men and 

 officers, have been considered objects for removal; but 

 several cases of severe catarrhal fever, resulting probably 

 from the first effects of condensation between decks, have 

 occurred ; but evidently selecting those predisposed, par- 

 ticularly among the crew of the ' Pioneer.' 



Today the thermometers have been placed under the 

 small boat, inverted and suspended to our driver boom, 

 affording a free current of air through them, at four feet 

 above the floe edge. These are registered at the hours 

 of eight A.M., noon, and four P.M., the standard spirit 

 and minimum every two hours. 



October 10. The day proved beautiful; calm, sun bril- 

 liant, and temperature 15. I had become very fidgety 

 about our return sledge, as well as the non-appearance of 

 Commander Pullen, accompanied also by a strange, op- 

 pressive, unaccountable feeling. Ascending the hill above 

 us about four P.M., I noticed a suspicious dark streak 

 on the distant floe, apparently, to my comprehension, a 

 lane of blue water ; but the Ice Quartermaster declaring 

 it to be mere fog, I was relieved from anxiety, and as it 

 indicated nothing which demanded further investigation, 

 it passed unnoticed but not forgotten. About ten P.M. 

 the breeze freshened considerably, and before going be- 

 low for the night, I jocosely desired the officer of the 

 watch to " Call me, if the ice parts at the bow, and take 

 care that the 'Pioneer' (the wind bang aft, and her bow- 

 sprit pointing over our beam, not many yards distant) 



