262 THE VOYAGE OF THE JEANNETTE. 



the midship berths dry and comfortable, but the for- 

 ward and after berths require rubber blankets over 

 them to catch the moisture. Since the leak we have 

 not been able to air the bedding in the deck-house, be- 

 cause it would only absorb dampness ; and we have 

 to rest content with turning up all the mattresses in the 

 berths every morning, and letting the air already on 

 the berth deck circulate around them. Although the 

 Baxter boiler and stove keep the deck-house warm, six 

 of each could not keep it dry, and it is this continued 

 dampness that I fear will eventually tell on the men. 

 The worst of it is that we can hope for no improve- 

 ment until we get moderate weather. When that time 

 comes, I intend moving the Baxter engine rig to the 

 after bilge-pump, and letting all the water come aft 

 freely through the gates in the water-tight bulkhead. 

 But I cannot do this now because the after bilge-pump 

 stands out on the deck, with nothing more than the 

 tent-awning to shelter it, and would undoubtedly freeze 

 and choke up with ice while being worked. 



Although the weather is terribly cold, everybody is 

 encouraged to take exercise out on the ice. From 

 eleven to one every day the berth deck is cleared and 

 aired, and the men of their own accord take at once to 

 the ice, tramping up and down near the ship, or wan- 

 dering off looking for open Avater and seals or bear 

 tracks. The officers are as ready to take a consti- 

 tutional walk as could be desired, the cabin being 

 thoroughly aired. We are as comfortable aft as we 

 could wish. The w\ard-room is and has been perfectly 

 dry, not a sign of drip or dampness being visible. As 

 there never is any fire there (except Saturday night to 

 heat water for bathing) the temperature ranges between 

 28° and 32°, and the officers below find that by no means 



