DIVISION OF DUTIES 267 



tidiness, as well as circumstances permitted. It was 

 therefore decided that each of us should take a week's 

 duty as " orderly." This duty consisted in sweeping the 

 floor every morning, emptying ash-trays, etc. To secure 

 plenty of ventilation especially in our sleeping-places 

 a rule was made that no one might have anything under 

 his bunk except the boots he had in wear. Each man 

 had two pegs to hang his clothes on, and this was 

 sufficient for what he was wearing every day ; all super- 

 fluous clothing was stuffed into our kit-bags and put out. 

 In this way we succeeded in maintaining some sort 

 of tidiness; in any case, the worst of the dirt was got 

 rid of. Whether a fastidious housekeeper would have 

 found everything in order is doubtful. 



Everyone had his regular work. Prestrud, with the 



91 



assistance of Johansen, looked after the astronomical 

 observations and the pendulum observations. Hassel 

 was set in authority over coal, wood, and paraffin; he 

 was responsible for the supply lasting out. As manager 

 of the Framheim coal and wood business, he, of course, 

 received the title of Director, and this dignity might 

 possibly have gone to his head if the occupation of 

 errand-boy had not been combined with it. But it was. 

 Besides receiving the orders, he had to deliver the goods, 

 and he discharged his duties with distinction. He suc- 

 ceeded in hoodwinking his largest customer Lindstrom 

 -to such an extent that, in the course of the winter, he 

 saved a good deal of coal. Hanssen had to keep the 



