266 PREPARING FOR WINTER 



of it if we used it too often ; therefore we only brought 

 it out on rare occasions, but we enjoyed its music all the 

 more when we heard it. When Easter was over, a 

 sigh of relief escaped us all; these holidays are always 

 tiring. They are tedious enough in places which have 

 more amusements to offer than the Barrier, but here 

 they were insufferably long. 



Our manner of life was now completely in order, and 

 everything worked easily and well. The chief work of 

 the winter would be the perfecting of our outfit for the 

 coming sledge journey to the South. Our object was 

 to reach the Pole everything else was secondary. The 

 meteorological observations were in full swing and 

 arranged for the winter. Observations were made at 

 8 a.m., 2 p.m., and 8 p.m. We were so short-handed 

 that I could not spare anyone for night duty, besides 

 which, living as we did in a small space, it would have a 

 disturbing effect if there were always someone moving 

 about; there would never be any peace. My special 

 aim was that everyone should be happy and comfortable, 

 so that, when the spring came, we might all be fresh and 

 well and eager to take up the final task. It was not my 

 intention that we should spend the winter in idleness- 

 far from it. To be contented and well, a man must 

 always be occupied. I therefore expected everyone to 

 be busy during the hours that were set apart for work. 

 At the end of the day each man was free to do what he 

 pleased. We had also to keep some sort of order and 



