THE RETURN OF DAYLIGHT. 



283 



will here record the attending circumstances of the past 

 week's weather, etc., for future consideration of its ef- 

 fect on the drift : — 



March 14^/^, Sunday. — At eleven a. m. inspected 

 the ship. The berth deck was in a fair condition with 

 respect to drip, the rubber blankets being a necessity, 

 of course, over the forward and after berths. Consider- 

 ing, however, all our surroundings, and the unavoid- 

 able dampness arising from the steady flowing of water 

 into the fore peak, I must be satisfied. The deck-house, 

 however, Avas wringing wet. The high temperature of 

 the past few days and the heat arising from the Baxter 

 boiler and stove have caused the accumulation of frost 

 on the sides and roof to melt and run down in streams. 

 The deck was one large slop. So much provisions, etc., 

 are stowed in the house that squilgeeing the deck dry 

 is impossible. Little rivers and rivulets stream out 

 under boxes and barrels. Not having been able to get 

 a winter harbor and get superfluous articles on shore, I 

 have not been able to put this deck-house to its proper 

 and intended use : a living place for the men. On the 

 contrary, it has been nothing but a store-house and 

 workshop. 



The ward-room remains dry and comfortable. The 

 cabin has responded to the rise in temperature by 

 thawing the accumulations of ice back of the lockers, 



