The Winter Night. 225 



I hope my readers will admit that this was quite a 

 fine entertainment to be given in latitude 79 north ; but 

 of such we had many on board the Frain at still higher 

 latitudes. 



<: Coffee and sweets were served after dinner ; and 

 after a better supper than usual, came strawberry and 

 lemon ice (alias granitta) and limejuice toddy, without 

 alcohol. The health of the hero of the day was first 

 proposed ' in a few well-chosen words ; ' and then we 

 drank a bumper to the seventy-ninth degree, which we 

 were sure was only the first of many degrees to be 

 conquered in the same way. 



" Saturday, September 3Oth. I am not satisfied that 

 the Fraui s present position is a good one for the winter. 

 The great floe on the port side to which we are moored 

 sends out an ugly projection about amidships, which might 

 give her a bad squeeze in case of the ice packing. We 

 therefore began to-day to warp her backwards into better 

 ice. It is by no means quick work. The comparatively 

 open channel around us is now covered with tolerably 

 thick ice, which has to be hewn and broken in pieces 

 with axes, ice-staves, and walrus-spears. Then the 

 capstan is manned, and we heave her through the broken 

 floe foot by foot. The temperature this evening is 

 9-4 Fahr. ( i2'6 C.). A wonderful sunset." 



" Sunday, October ist. Wind from the W.S.W. and 

 weather mild. W T e are taking a day of rest, which 

 means eating, sleeping, smoking, and reading. 



Q 



