THE RETURN OF DAYLIGHT. 271 



A few of the strongest dogs take post on board at the 

 door of the cook-house to intercept any supphes, and be 

 nearest the place of deposit if they are thrown over 

 the rail, and a hungry or inquisitive brother is at once 

 driven away by them. 



February 29th, Sunday. — At eleven a. m. I inspected 

 the ship. Although the berth deck and deck-house were 

 damp, they were at all events clean. The deck-house; 

 having been relieved of some of the boxes of provisions 

 by stowing them in the coal bunkers, presented more 

 room for free circulation ; and although the deck was 

 damp, particularly in the wake of the Baxter boiler on 

 the port side and the stove on the starboard side, the 

 temperature being kept at quite a comfortable point 

 rendered it considerable of a shelter in this inclement 

 weather. In all the drip and dampness on the berth 

 deck we have been able to keep the bedding dry, and 

 there has been no instance of bed clothing freezing to 

 the side as I have read of in some other expeditions. 

 The men are bright and cheerful, surveying with much 

 complacency and evident gratification the pumping of 

 the ship by steam instead of hand power. Our Chinese 

 cook and steward are as impassible and impenetrable in 

 this cold weather as if we were enjoying a tropical 

 spring. Seemingly emotionless, all weathers, all cir- 

 cumstances, are alike to them. Living by themselves 

 in the cook-house, they hold no communion with their 

 fellow-men, but are nevertheless cheerful and contented 

 with each other's society, singing songs or playing cards 

 in the evening, day after day, with no concern for the 

 future and no care for the past. Our two natives, 

 Alexey and Aneguin, thrive wonderfully well. Occa- 

 sionally they " think plenty " about St. Michael's, being 

 a little homesick, but generally they are bright and 



