THE DEAD OF WINTER. 229 



together all day, finished calking the bulkhead across 

 the fore peak. If I kept these men continuously at 

 work, I suppose in three days I should have Sweet- 

 man on the sick list. Nindemann will overtax his s^reat 

 strength without admitting that he is fatigued. So as 

 all our skilled carpenters' labor is in these two I must 

 husband their strength as much as possible. Some 

 would-be wise person may ask why I did not employ the 

 whole ship's companj^, and why I limit the work to two 

 men ? To such a question I here reply that the work 

 of stopping or controlling this leak effectually must be 

 well done and by skillful hands — and space as well as 

 other considerations permit of these two only. 



At 1.30 P.M. I read divine service in the cabin. The 

 day opened clear and pleasant, with very fine snow dust, 

 and light E. N. E. airs. From ten a. m. to three p. m. 

 the atmosphere was remarkably clear. At twelve, from 

 aloft was seen the upper limb of the sun much distorted 

 by refraction. 



Danenhower's case is again becoming very disquiet- 

 ing. The continued confinement is telling on his gen- 

 eral health, and his failing to improve under treatment 

 worries him greatly. Being of a very sensitive nature, 

 he feels that he is not doing any duty for the expedi- 

 tion, and that worries him. We try to encourage him 

 all we can. He accepts our kind w^ords at their full 

 value, but knows they do not in any way alter facts. 

 The doctor is very anxious about him, and speaks of the 

 stubbornness of the case and the probable necessity of 

 another operation. My anxieties are beginning to crowd 

 on me. A disabled and leaking ship, a seriously sick 

 officer, and an uneasy and terrible pack, with a con- 

 stantly diminishing coal pile, and at a distance of 200 

 miles to the nearest Siberian settlement — these are 

 enoudi to think of for a lifetime. 



