1916] ALONE AT BORUP LODGE 271 



keen disappointment at the non-arrival of the second 

 reHef-ship. He was content to bide his time and look 

 and hope for the best. 



And equally philosophical was Capt. George Comer, 

 a man of wide experience in both northern and southern 

 waters. He was there, and why not make the best of 

 it.f^ His songs of the sea, which we heard daily, and his 

 experiences in the Strait of Magellan, at Desolation 

 Island and at Hudson Bay, often but not too often 

 narrated, were a never-failing source of entertainment. 

 Physically strong, energetic, and willing, he proved of 

 great help to me in many ways during the year. He 

 insisted upon being held responsible for certain duties 

 at Etah, such as keeping our big tank well supplied with 

 ice for drinking and wash water; taking all meteorologi- 

 cal observations during the day, tidal observations dur- 

 ing the spring, and other similar duties. All the work 

 I assigned to him was dismissed completely from my 

 mind. I knew it would be done faithfully and well. 



During the darkening and shortening of the fall 

 days we were busily occupied in securing meat for the 

 winter — walrus, seal, ptarmigan, ducks, guillemots, and 

 Arctic hare. We placed thermometers upon Thermom- 

 eter Hill at an altitude of 1,100 feet, and visited them 

 religiously every Sunday until darkness would no longer 

 permit a reading. A line of soundings was carried 

 throughout the length of Alida Lake, the greatest depth 

 proving to be eighty-two and a half feet. To insure a 

 good water-supply, four icebergs were moored to the 

 beach in front of our door, to remain there until frozen 

 in for the winter. 



Clad in long-legged rubber boots and with long- 

 handled dipper and net, Doctor Hovey could be seen 



