THE DEAD OF WINTER. 211 



ventilated the whole or part of the time, depending on 

 the temperature, and though we sometimes find it cold 

 upon our return on board, that drawback is more than 

 compensated for by having had the air changed. 



Our little mess is pulling through the winter fairly 

 well. Mr. Dunbar is getting back to his usual good 

 condition, but Mr. Danenhower is having a hard time 

 with his eyes, the inflammation being so great that he 

 cannot bear any light to fall upon them. The rest of 

 us are up to our usual standard. At one p. m. read the 

 Articles of War and mustered the crew. After which 

 performed divine service. 



January 6th, Monday. — This morning the doctor 

 came to me and represented that Danenhower's case was 

 of a very serious character, and that there w^as great 

 danger of his losing the sight of his left eye. Owing 

 to the necessity for shielding the eye from all light, it 

 would become necessary for Mr. Danenhower to remain 

 in his room in total darkness, and it was feared that this 

 might affect his general health and depress his spirits. 

 I am much distressed at the news, for Danenhower is 

 highly prized by all of us, and by his efforts has kept 

 us many an hour from moping. He is now shut out 

 from all participation with what is going on, and we can 

 do nothing but go down occasionally and sit with him 

 in the dark and talk with him. He is cheerful enough 

 himself, however, and, having great force of character, 

 has made up his mind to accept the situation and fight 

 it out patiently. 



January Qth, Tuesday. — The surgeon handed me 

 to-day his report of the result of the monthly examina- 

 tion. He considers the condition of the majority of the 

 officers and men satisfactory. His opinion of Danen- 

 hower's case I recorded yesterday. Several of the 



