FEEDING THE DOGS 333 



This box stood on a platform, which was raised a couple 

 of feet above the snow surface. The box fitted into 

 a groove, and was thus absolutely tight. In the plat- 

 form immediately under the bath a rectangular opening 

 was cut, lined round with rubber packing, and into this 

 opening a tin box fitted accurately. Under the tin box 

 stood two Primus lamps, and now everyone will be able 

 to understand why Hassel felt warm. A block hung 

 from the top of the hut, with a rope reeved in it; one 

 end was made fast to the upper edge of the bath, and 

 the other went down into the bath. In this way the 

 bather himself could raise the bath without assistance, 

 and free himself when the heat became too great. The 

 temperature outside the snow - wall was - 65 F. 

 Cunning lads! I afterwards heard that Bjaaland and 

 Hassel had constructed this ingenious bath. 



I now went back to the house, and saw how they 

 all almost made use of the vapour-bath. By a 

 quarter-past five all the bathing as concluded, and 

 everyone put on his furs; it was evident that they were 

 going out. I followed the first man who left the hut; 

 he was provided with a lantern, and indeed it was 

 wanted. The weather had changed: a south-west wind 

 had sprung up suddenly, and now the air was thick with 

 snow. It was not a fall of snow, for one could see the 

 stars in the zenith, but snow caught up by the wind 

 and whirled along. A man had to know the surround- 

 ings well to find his way now; one had to feel it 



