374 THE END OF THE WINTER 



August 23 arrived: calm, partly overcast, and 

 - 43'6 F. Finer weather for taking out our sledges 

 and driving them over to the starting-point could not be 

 imagined. They had to be brought up through the 

 door of the Clothing Store; it was the largest and the 

 easiest to get through. We had first to dig away the 

 snow, which latterly had been allowed to collect there, 

 as the inmates of this department had for some time 

 past used the inner passage. The snow had blotted out 

 everything, so that no sign of the entrance could be 

 seen; but with a couple of strong shovels, and a couple 

 of strong men to use them, the opening was soon laid 

 bare. To get the sledges up was a longer business; 

 they weighed 880 pounds apiece, and the way up to the 

 surface was steep. A tackle was rigged, and by hauling 

 and shoving they slowly, one by one, came up into 

 daylight. We dragged them away to a place near the 

 instrument-screen, so as to get a clear start away from 

 the house. The dogs were fresh and wild, and wanted 

 plenty of room; a case, not to mention a post, still less 

 the instrument-screen, would all have been objects of 

 extreme interest, to which, if there had been the slightest 

 opportunity, their course would infallibly have been 

 directed. The protests of their drivers would have been 

 of little avail. The dogs had not been let loose that 

 morning, and every man was now in his tent harnessing 

 them. Meanwhile I stood contemplating the packed 

 sledges that stood there ready to begin the long journey.- 



