CHAPTER XXVI. 



THE FIRST DAY'S JOURNEY. —A FALL OF TEMPERATURE. — ITS EFFECT UPON 

 THE MEN. — CAMPED IN A SNOW-HUT. —THE SECOND DAY'S JOURNEY.— 

 AT CAIRN POINT.— CHARACTER OF THE ICE. — THE PROSPECT. — STORM- 

 STAYED. —THE COOKS IN DIFFICULTY. — SNOW-DRIFT. — VIOLENCE OF THE 

 GALE. — OUR SNOW-HUT. 



April 4th. 



Buried in a snow-bank, and not over well pleased 

 with my first day's work. The temperature of the air 

 has tumbled down to — 32,° and inside the hut it is 

 now, two hours after entering it, a degree above zero, 

 and steadily rising. Three of the party succumbed to 

 the cold on the march, and I had much difficulty in 

 keeping them from being seriously frozen. We got on 

 finely until we reached Sunrise Point, where the ice was 

 very rough, and we were bothered for more than two 

 hours in getting over it with our long and cumber- 

 some boat and sledge. It was probably only a little 

 foretaste of what is to come when we strike across 

 the Sound. Once over this ugly place, we halted to 

 melt some water, for the men had become very warm 

 and thirsty. Unluckily, just at this time a smart 

 breeze sprung up, chilling us through and through, 

 for we had been perspiring freely with the violent ex- 

 ercise. The first cold blast put an extinguisher upon 

 the enthusiasm which the party had carried along 

 with them from the ship, and it was singular to ob- 

 serve the change which came over their spirits. It 

 was the contrast of champagne and sour cider. Some 



