A FROZEN SUMMER. 387 



of the Arctic Circle if such proves the case. Since our 

 supply of snow begins to be difficult of access on ac- 

 count of the sloppy condition of the ice which makes 

 sledding bad, we to-day filled our tank on the spar deck 

 with the water from the pools. The temperature is 

 sufficient to prevent accident to our tank by any freez- 

 ing. 



The dismal monotony of our daily existence still con- 

 tinues, and while our drift is southward ho ! our social 

 barometer is kept correspondingly low. The only ani- 

 mate creatures in whom I detect no change are the 

 dogs. They seem perfectly oblivious to all surround- 

 ings, utterly indifferent whether the sun shines or does 

 not shine, so long as they are fed. From the liberal 

 diet of bear meat and seals' entrails they have re- 

 mained as fat as dumplings, and repudiate utterly any 

 labor or exertion. When with the sunshine the tem- 

 perature reaches 32°, it is amusing to see them pant, 

 and seek shady places, while we human beings are 

 merely comfortable. However, their heat has a better 

 non-conductor than ours. 



June 24:th, Thursday. — A day without anything in 

 particular to record. 



June 2DtIi, Friday. — This day is worthy of record as 

 bringing another Ross gull, shot by Aneguin, and no 

 less than nine seals. Besides this Aneguin saw and 

 shot his last cartridge into a young bear, but the ani- 

 mal, though bleeding freely, took to the water and 

 escaped. The " water " referred to is the long lane 

 about one and a half miles S. E. of the ship, which 

 is daily visited by seal hunters. Thermometer is gen- 

 erally at 31° and 32°, but at three p. m. it was 37.5°. 

 Oh, if we could have it at 100° for a week to melt this 

 ice rapidly ! That some melting is going on beneath is 



