chap, v CAIRN CAMP 7S 



side to tie it to instead of pegs. The ponies were hobbled 

 and let go. We took off our wet clothes and crawled into 

 the reindeer-skin bags, which are as gymnastically hard to 

 enter as they are morally hard to quit. The spirit-stove 

 was lit, ration cartridges cooked, and tea made. We supped 

 with deep satisfaction, knowing that we had grappled with the 

 real work of our journey, and that the first and, we flattered 

 ourselves — how erroneously ! — the worst stage was accom- 

 plished. Supper and rest had been earned. By two A.M. 

 journals were written, and we could settle down for sleep. 

 Side by side we lay, Garwood, Pedersen, and I, each in 

 his bag, looking like three large dirty white cocoons. Heads 

 were inside the bags, partly for warmth, more for darkness' 

 sake. Thus protected, none ever suffered from cold ; some- 

 times we were over-warm. Rain poured soothingly on to 

 the roof, but the poor ponies suffered and came up to 

 the tent seeking shelter. They kept stumbling over the 

 guy ropes. Driven off again and again, they constantly 

 returned. 



The wind was from the north-east, a bad quarter, said 

 Pedersen, who prophesied fine weather with a south wind. 

 Experience taught us that all winds bring rain in Spitsbergen. 

 If the weather means to be fine, it is fine whatever the wind ; 

 usually it is foul. Next morning (June 24) it was impossible 

 to start, for no surveying could be done, everything being 

 enveloped in fog. We had to stay where we were till the posi- 

 tion of the camp could be fixed. So we sat up in our bags and 

 were fully employed over details of all sorts — changing and 

 packing photograph films, cooking, and so forth. In a tiny 

 tent there is always much to be done, for everything takes 

 an inordinate time to do. W T hatever can upset does upset. 

 Things become immediately mislaid, being necessarily piled 

 one on another. Order cannot be maintained without a little 

 space. Where three men are crowded together in the area 



