COLD LODGINGS. 283 



our pipes, rolled up in our buffaloes, and did the best 

 we could for the balance of the night. 



M}^ invention did not, however, turn out so satis- 

 factory as was expected. The hut, if more commo- 

 dious, and admitting of a little movement without 

 knocking down the loose snow all over us, was 

 much colder than either of our dens of the Kalutu- 

 nah plan, the temperature in each of which stood 

 about zero through the night, elevated to that degree 

 by the heat radiated from our own persons, and from 

 the lamp which cooked the supper. But this pit un- 

 der the sledge could not be warmed above 20° below 

 zero. No amount of coaxing could induce the ther- 

 mometer to rise. 



Notwithstanding all this I still adhered to my the- 

 ory about snow-huts, and I very unjustly threw the 

 blame on Jensen for carelessness in the construction ; 

 so I sent him out to pile on more snow.  This did not 

 mend matters in the least, but rather made them 

 worse ; for, through the now open doorway, what 

 little warmth we had managed to get up made its 

 escape ; and when Jensen came back and we shut 

 ourselves in again, the temperature was — 35°, and 

 never afterwards reached higher than — 30°. Even 

 Kalutunah was troubled to sleep, and, as he rubbed 

 his eyes and pounded his feet together to keep them 

 from freezing, he made a grimace which told more 

 plainly than words in what low estimation he held 

 the Nale^aksoak's talents for making snow-huts. 



The cause of all this trouble was, however, ex- 

 plained next morning. The hut was well enough, 

 and I stuck ever afterward to the plan, and even 

 Kalutunah was compelled .to own that it was the cor- 

 rect thing. It was perfectly tight. The thermometer 



