194 ON THE BARRIER 



us for fastening the hut down to the Barrier, but the 

 calm weather we had had all the time led us to suppose 

 that the conditions would not be so bad as we had 

 expected. We were therefore satisfied with the founda- 

 tion dug in the Barrier. The outside of the hut was 

 tarred, and the roof covered with tarred paper, so that 

 it was very visible against the white surroundings. 

 That afternoon we broke up both camps, and moved 

 into our home, " Framheim." What a snug, cosy, and 

 cleanly impression it gave us when we entered the 

 door ! Bright, new linoleum everywhere in the kitchen 

 as well as in our living-room. We had good reason to 

 be happy. Another important point had been got 

 over, and in much shorter time than I had ever hoped. 

 Our path to the goal was opening up; we began to 

 have a glimpse of the castle in the distance. The 

 Beauty is still sleeping, but the kiss is coming, the kiss 

 that shall wake her! 



It was a happy party that assembled in the hut the 

 first evening, and drank to the future to the music of 

 the gramophone. All the full-grown dogs were now 

 brought up here, and were fastened to wire ropes 

 stretched in a square, 50 yards on each side. It may 

 be believed that they gave us some music. Collected 

 as they were, they performed under the leadership of 

 some great singer or other daily, and, what was worse, 

 nightly concerts. Strange beasts! what can they have 

 meant by this howling? One began, then two, then a 



