THE DEAD OF WINTER. 207 



clear and pleasant. The temperature began at minus 

 24°, but at four a. m. it dropped suddenly to minus 30°, 

 and by eleven A. M. it had reached minus 39°, running 

 along at that steadily until midnight, when it reached 

 minus 39.5°. The temperature was probably lower, but 

 the mercurial thermometers began to freeze, and 'the 

 spirit thermometers did not record accurately at this 

 point. 



At three a. m. we had a lunar circle showing faint 

 mock moons, the lowest mock moon very bright. 

 Through the real and two lateral mock moons a curved 

 line passed toward the horizon. At nine p. m. a blood- 

 red halo around the moon. Early daylight at 8.14: A. M. 

 Sounded at noon in 30i fathoms. Owing to the low 

 temperature and strong wind blowing, I suspended for 

 the day the operation of my regulation making every- 

 body leave the ship and exercise on the ice from eleven 

 A. M. to one p. M. 



At three p. m. everybody sat down to a capital din- 

 ner, and afterward we got ready for the minstrel per- 

 formance m the evening. Our men had rallied from 

 their failure to get up one for Christmas, and seemed 

 determined to make this entertainment good enough 

 for both occasions. During the day invitations were 

 sent aft, accomjDanied by programmes. At 8.30 one of 

 the men came to the cabin and invited us into the deck- 

 house. Entering, we found a nice little stage erected 

 with drop-curtain, footlights, etc., and tastily decorated 

 with flags. The performance commenced with a min- 

 strel variety, jokes and conundrums sandwiching in 

 with the songs. One conundrum was excellent (point- 

 ing to one of the stanchions of the deck-house) : '' Why 

 is that stanchion like Mr. James Gordon Bennett ? Be- 

 cause it supports the house." Sweetman's songs were 



