THE RETURN TO COLD AND DARKNESS. 447 



The work on our deck-house being so far advanced 

 that we were ready to shut in the after end, the steam- 

 cutter was hoisted out and hung up at the port cutter's 

 davits, the cutter going to the dingy davits, and the 

 metallic clingy to the ice. The sail for the forefoot is 

 finished to-day, and is now thrummed and ready for 

 use. Fires were started on the berth deck and in the 

 cabin this afternoon, the low temperature inducing me 

 to add thus to our general comfort. 



September 8th, Wednesday. — We seem to have 

 reached the bottom of our low temperature for the 

 present. At six a. m. the thermometer ceased going 

 down, and at midnight we had the comfortable figure 

 of 25.7°. 



All the ponds are covered long since with ice, and 

 one can walk all around our neighborhood without get- 

 ting his feet wet. I had a piece cut out and measured 

 to-day, and it was found to be three inches thick. This 

 is formed since the low temperature of the evening of 

 August 30th. 



September § tli i Thursday. — It seems we are to have 

 a spell in the cold snap, for to-day we have had an agree- 

 able change in the temperature. The weather is, how- 

 ever, dull and gloomy, no sun appearing long enough 

 for me to obtain observations. 



Ice three fourths of an inch in thickness formed since 

 nine A. m. yesterday over the water which was left when 

 the three-inch block was cut out. 



We have again arrived at the end of sufficiently pure 

 ice for cooking and drinking, and as I was regretfully 

 obliged to order the resumption of distilling, the steam- 

 cutter's boiler was again called into use. A large patch 

 of crimson snow was found about one half mile ahead 

 of the ship, and a handkerchiefful brought in by Mr, 



