EASY TEMPERATURES 223 



is about - 4° F. A fellow-man suddenly put down in 

 our midst from civilized surroundings would possibly 

 shake his head at so many degrees of frost, but it must 

 be remembered that we have long ago abandoned the 

 ordinary ideas of civilized people as to what is endurable 

 in the way of temperature. We are enthusiastic about 

 the spring-like weather, especially when we remember 

 what it was like down here two months ago, when the 

 thermometer showed - 76° F., and the rime hung an inch 

 thick inside the tent, ready to drop on everything and 

 everybody at the slightest movement. Now there is no 

 rime to be seen ; the sun clears it away. For now there 

 is a sun; not the feeble imitation of one that stuck its 

 red face above the northern horizon in August, but our 

 good old acquaintance of lower latitudes, with his wealth 

 of light and warmth. 



After two hours' march we came in sight, at ten o'clock 

 in the morning, of the two snow-huts that were built 

 on the last trip. We made straight for them, thinking 

 we might possibly find some trace of the southern party. 

 So we did, though in a very different way from what we 

 expected. We were, perhaps, about a mile off when we 

 all three suddenly halted and stared at the huts. " There 

 are men," said Stubberud. At any rate there was some- 

 thing black that moved, and after confused thoughts of 

 Japanese, Englishmen, and the like had flashed through 

 our minds, we at last got out the glasses. It w^as not 

 men, but a dog. Well, the presence of a live dog here. 



