CHAPTER IV 



THROUGH THE "GREAT NIGHT " ON THE SHORES OF 

 THE CENTRAL POLAR SEA 



THE winter, which for convenience I assume to 

 comprise the time from November ist to 

 February yth, the date of the return of the last of the 

 field parties, was marked by practically the same 

 ice and atmospheric conditions as the fall, accom- 

 panied of course by a greater degree of cold and 

 almost entire absence of light. 



Through all its vicissitudes and against continued 

 stress of wind and ice, the Roosevelt clung to her 

 moorings against the ice-foot, presenting a marked 

 contrast to the usual pictures of Arctic ships in winter 

 quarters. Having no topmasts to house, the ship's 

 slender masts and light but effective rigging rose 

 aloft just as they did in the summer time. With 

 decks uncovered and only the houses banked in with 

 snow, at a little distance in the dim light the ship's 

 general appearance was much as when afloat. One very 

 distinctive, very salient feature, was the galley lamp, 

 the "eye of the Roosevelt'' as it was called, which 

 night and day from early October, when the sun left 

 us, until early March when it returned, shone through 

 the galley window, lighting the main deck and piercing 

 the darkness, the falling snow, the fog, for a consider- 

 able distance on either bow. This beam of yellow 



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