Second Autumn in the Ice. 483 



during' the observation after it is brought up, so that the 

 water will not run out of it into the sample bottles, not 

 to mention all the bother there is getting the apparatus 

 ready to lower. We are lucky if we do not require to 

 take the whole thing- into the galley every time to thaw 

 it. It is slow work ; the temperatures have sometimes 

 to be read by lantern light. The water samples are not 

 so reliable, because they freeze in the lifter. But the 

 thino- can be done, and we must just O-Q on doin<>- it. 



O J O O 



The same easterly wind is blowing, and we are drifting 

 onwards. Our latitude this evening is about 81 47' N. 



"Thursday, October iSth. I continue taking- the tem- 

 peratures of the water, rather a cool amusement with the 

 thermometer down to 29 C. (2O'2 F. below zero) and 

 a wind blowing. Your fingers are apt to get a little stiff 

 and numb when you have to manipulate the wet or 

 ice-covered metal screws with bare hands and have 

 to read off the thermometer with a magnifying-glass 

 in order to ensure accuracy to the hundredth part of a 

 degree, and then to bottle the samples of water, which 

 you have to keep close against your breast, to prevent 

 the water from freezing. It is a nice business ! 



"There was a lovely aurora borealis at 8 o'clock 

 this evening. It wound itself like a fiery serpent in 

 a double coil across the sky. The tail was about 

 10 above the horizon in the north. Thence it turned 

 off with many windings in an easterly direction, then 

 round again, and westwards in the form of an arch 



2 I 2 



