490 THE VOYAGE OF THE JEANNETTE. 



ice melts, and used to make the two beds wet. By 

 building a little canvas pocket or back to each berth, 

 the ice can be scraped out readily each morning before 

 it melts, and the enemy is accordingly thus circum- 

 vented. 



In my room and in Chipp's room condensation takes 

 place regularly on the forward bulkhead, and generally 

 remains as ice. But sometimes, when the temperature 

 of the cabin runs up to 60° by inadvertence, our rooms 

 get warm enough to melt the ice, and a little pool or 

 meandering stream results. This, of course, is at once 

 dried, and the evil is checked. But when the berths 

 are against the inner bulkheads, everything is as dry as 

 a bone. Low temperature as a rule, except at nine 

 and six p. m., when some ice opening made heat escape 

 from water exposed, and the temperature jumped up. 



November 23c?, Tuesday. — Another day of the usual 

 stagnation. Alexey's dogs got on the trail of three 

 bears, overtook them, and brought them to bay for the 

 time ; but the bears escaped by swimming across a lane 

 of water before Dunbar and Alexey could come up. 



November 24th, Wednesday. — Light, variable airs. 

 A day more devoid of interest it will be difficult to find. 



November 2Sth, Sunday. — One more week is come 

 and gone, and our life of monotony continues. The 

 sameness of our existence has become painful, and life 

 seems a burden. The mere fact of doing something 

 would be a relief, but even that is denied us. We have 

 done nothing, are doing nothing, and, so far as we can 

 see, shall do nothing that can be of any use. To eat 

 food and wear out clothes, without any result for the 

 money expended, is poor comfort. I am satisfied that 

 we are affected by the length of time since we have 

 had foot on shore. Like the old saying, " Dogs need 



