386 THE END OF THE WINTER 



I thought this a suitable occasion to bring in the gin. 

 It was as hard as flint right through. While we were 

 thawing it the bottle burst, and we threw it out into the 

 snow, with the result that all the dogs started to sneeze. 

 The next bottle " Aquavit, No. 1 " was like a bone, 

 but we had learnt wisdom by experience, and we suc- 

 ceeded with care in thawing it out. We waited till we 

 were all in our bags, and then we had one. I was 

 greatly disappointed; it was not half so good as I had 

 thought. But I am glad I tried it, as I shall never do 

 so again. The effect was nil; I felt nothing, either in 

 my head or my feet. 



The 14th was cool the temperature remained at 

 - 68'8 F. Fortunately it was clear, so that we could 

 see where we were going. We had not gone far before 

 a bright projection appeared on the level surface. Out 

 with the glasses the depot! There it lay, right in our 

 course. Hanssen, who had driven first the whole way, 

 without a forerunner, and for the most part without a 

 compass, had no need to be ashamed of his performance. 

 We agreed that it was well done, and that, no doubt, 

 was all the thanks he got. We reached it at 10.15 a.m., 

 and unloaded our sledges at once. Wisting undertook 

 the far from pleasant task of getting us a cup of warm 

 milk at - 68'8 F. He put the Primus behind one 

 of the cases of provisions, and set it going; strangely 

 enough, the paraffin was still liquid in the vessel, but 

 this was no doubt because it had been well protected in 



