252 THE EASTERN SLEDGE JOURNEY 



Barrier as it appears in the neighbourhood of our winter- 

 quarters at Framheim. 



Monday, December 4. — The gale kept on at full force 

 all night, and increased rather than moderated as the 

 day advanced. As usual, the storm was accompanied 

 by a very marked rise of temperature. At the noon 

 observation to-day the reading was + 26'6° F. This is 

 the highest temperature we have had so far on this trip, 

 and a good deal higher than we care about. When the 

 mercury comes so near freezing-point as this, the floor 

 of the tent is always damp. 



To-day, for once in a way, we have falling snow, 

 and enough of it. It is snowing incessantly — big, hard 

 flakes, almost like hail. When the cooker was filled to 

 provide water for dinner, the half-melted mass looked 

 like sago. The heavy flakes of snow make a noise 

 against the tent that reminds one of the safety-valve 

 of a large boiler blowing off. Inside the tent it is 

 difficult to hear oneself speak; when we have anything 

 to say to each other we have to shout. 



These days of involuntary idleness on a sledge journey 

 may safely be reckoned among the experiences it is 

 difficult to go through without a good deal of mental 

 sufi^ering. I say nothing of the purely physical dis- 

 comfort of having to pass the day in a sleeping-bag. 

 That may be endured ; in any case, so long as the bag 

 is fairly dry. It is a far worse matter to reconcile one- 

 self to the loss of the many solid hours that might 



