376 PREPARATIONS FOR WINTERING. 



layers follow in the same way, until you have graduallj 

 a dome-shaped structure rising before you, out of which 

 you have only to cut a small hole for a door, to find 

 yourself within a very light, comfortable-looking bee- 

 hive on a large scale, in which you can bid defiance to 

 wind and weather. Any chinks between the blocks are 

 filled up with Iwose snow with the hand from outside ; 

 as these are best detected from within, a man is usually 

 sent in to drive a thin rod through the spot where he 

 discovers a chink, which is immediately plastered over 

 by some one from without, till the whole house is as 

 air-tight as an egg." 



In these snowy dwellings they afterwards passed 

 many nights in considerable comfort, and on the pres- 

 ent occasion certainly found them a great improvement 

 on the small tent. In a few days they reached the 

 ship, where a hearty welcome from their comrades 

 greeted them. 



Preparations were now vigorously begun for passing 

 the next eight months of the winter of 1851-2 in the 

 ice, and for getting ready for the land journeys which 

 it was intended to make during that season. Portions 

 of the stores were removed from the vessel's hold to 

 the shore, where snow-houses were built to receive them. 

 A wash-house, a carpenter's shop, a forge, and a powder- 

 magazine, were also built of the same material. The 

 decks of the Prince Albert were covered with a housing, 

 and an embankment of snow as high as the gunwale 

 built around her. 



In all the excursions of the adventurers, Bellot, the 

 ^ourg Frenchman, seems to have been ever foremost. He 

 headed travelling parties, so soon as the ice permitted, 

 to make deposits of provisions, etc., for the grand trav- 

 elling expeditions in prospect ; and, besides lending 

 v:rj efficient assistance in all departments on board 



