344 Chapter VI. 



many who have had to stand by on deck in readiness 

 to leave their frail vessels on the occurrence of any such 

 pressure. The poor Tegethoff fellows they had a bad 

 time of it, and yet theirs was a good ship in comparison 

 with many of the others. It is now 11.30, and the 

 noise outside seems to be subsiding. 



"It is remarkable that we should have this strong 

 pressure just now, with the moon in its last quarter and 

 neap tide. This does not agree with our previous 

 experiences ; no more does the fact that the pressure the 

 day before yesterday was from 12 a.m. to about 2 p.m., 

 and then again at 2 a.m., and now we have had it from 

 7.30 to 10.30 p.m. Can land have something to do with 

 it here after all ? The temperature to-day is 42 F. below 

 zero ( 4i'4C.), but there is no wind, and we have not 

 had such pleasant weather for walking for a long- time ; it 



J- O O 



feels almost mild here when the air is still. 



" No, that was not the end of the pressure. When I 

 was on deck at a quarter to twelve, roaring and trembling 

 began again in the ice forward on the port quarter ; 

 then suddenly came one loud boom after another, 

 sounding out in the distance, and the ship gave a start ; 

 there was again a little pressure, and after that quietness. 

 Faint aurora borealis. 



' Sunday, January 28th. Strange to say, there has 

 been no pressure since 12 o'clock last night ; the ice 

 seems perfectly quiet. The pressure-ridge astern showed 

 what violent packing yesterday's was ; in one place its 



