CHAPTER IX 



THE END OF THE WINTER 



AFTER Midwinter Day the time began to pass even 

 more quickly than before. The darkest period was over, 

 and the sun was daily drawing nearer. In the middle 

 of the darkest time, Hassel came in one morning and 

 announced that Else had eight puppies. Six of these 

 were ladies, so their fate was sealed at once; they were 

 killed and given to their elder relations, who appreciated 

 them highly. It could hardly be seen that they chewed 

 them at all; they went down practically whole. There 

 could be no doubt of their approval, as the next day the 

 other two had also disappeared. 



The weather conditions we encountered down here 

 surprised us greatly. In every quarter of the Antarctic 

 regions of which we had any information, the conditions 

 had always proved very unsettled. On the Belgica, in 

 the drift-ice to the west of Graham Land, we always 

 had rough, unpleasant weather. Nordenskj old's stay in 

 the regions to the east of the same land gave the same 

 report storm after storm the whole time. And from 

 the various English expeditions that have visited 



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