SUFFERINGS ON THE 'BELGICA' 23 



insanity. One of them by itself would have been bad 

 enough. Scurvy especially increased, and did such 

 havoc that finally there was not a single man who 

 escaped being attacked by this fearful disease. 



Cook's behaviour at this time won the respect and 

 devotion of all. It is not too much to say that Cook 

 was the most popular man of the expedition, and he 

 deserved it. From morning to night he was occupied 

 with his many patients, and when the sun returned it 

 happened not infrequently that, after a strenuous day's 

 work, the doctor sacrificed his night's sleep to go hunt- 

 ing seals and penguins, in order to provide the fresh 

 meat that was so greatly needed by all. 



On July 22 the sun returned. 



It was not a pleasant sight that it shone upon. The 

 Antarctic winter had set its mark upon all, and green, 

 wasted faces stared at the returning light. 



Time went on, and the summer arrived. They 

 waited day by day to see a change in the ice. But no; 

 the ice they had entered so light-heartedly was not to 

 be so easy to get out of again. 



New Year's Day came and went without any change 

 in the ice. 



The situation now began to be seriously threatening. 

 Another winter in the ice would mean death and 

 destruction on a large scale. Disease and insufficient 

 nourishment would soon make an end of most of the 

 ship's company. 



