260 PREPARING FOR WINTER 



that the part of the Barrier on which the hut stood 

 rested on land, so that any fear of a sea voyage was 

 quite superfluous. As to the one who thought we were 

 afloat, I think I can say very definitely that he was not 

 afraid. I believe, as a matter of fact, that he gradually 

 came round to the same view as the rest of us. 



If a general is to win a battle, he must always be 

 prepared. If his opponent makes a move, he must see 

 that he is able to make a counter-move; everything 

 must be planned in advance, and nothing unforeseen. 

 We were in the same position; we had to consider 

 beforehand what the future might bring, and make our 

 arrangements accordingly while there was time. When 

 the sun had left us, and the dark period had set in, it 

 would be too late. What first of all claimed our atten- 

 tion and set our collective brain-machinery to work was 

 the female sex. There was no peace for us even on the 

 Barrier. What happened was that the entire feminine 

 population eleven in number had thought fit to 

 appear in a condition usually considered " interesting," 

 but which, under the circumstances, we by no means 

 regarded in that light. Our hands were indeed full 

 enough without this. What was to be done? Great 

 deliberation. Eleven maternity hospitals seemed rather 

 a large order, but we knew by experience that they all 

 required first aid. If we left several of them in the 

 same place there would be a terrible scene, and it would 

 end in their eating up each other's pups. For what 



