366 Chapter VI. 



stopped drinking beer, and begun lime-juice ? But Juell 

 goes on indefatigably he has gained nearly a pound 

 this time. Our doctor generally does very well in this 

 line too, but to-day it is only 10 oz. In other ways he is 

 badly off on board, poor fellow not a soul will turn ill. 

 In despair he set up a headache yesterday himself, but 

 he could not make it last over the night. Of late he has 

 taken to studying the diseases of clogs ; perhaps he may 

 find a more profitable practice in this department. 



"Thursday, March 8th. Drifting south. Sverdrup 

 and I had a good snow-shoeing trip to-day, to the north 

 and west. The snow was in splendid condition after the 

 winds ; you fly along like thistledown before a breeze, 

 and can get about everywhere, even over the worst 

 pressure-mounds. The weather was beautiful, tempera- 

 ture only 38 F. below zero ( 39 C.) ; but this evening 

 it is quite bitter again, 55 F. ( 48-5 C.) and from 16 

 to 26 feet of wind. It is by no means pleasant work 

 standing up on the. windmill, reefing or taking in the 

 sails ; it means aching nails, and sometimes frost-bitten 

 cheeks ; but it has to be done, and it is done. There is 

 plenty of ' mill-wind ' in the daytime now this is the 

 third week we have had electric light but it is wretched 

 that it should be always this north and north-west wind ; 

 goodness only knows when it is going to stop. Can 

 there be land north of us ? We are drifting badly south. 

 It is hard to keep one's faith alive. There is nothing for 

 it but to wait and see what time will do. 



