BLOCKING UP OF THE HANSA. 115 



covering it with sail-clotli, and strewing the snow upon 

 it to make it more soHcl. This walk was our larder, and 

 held nearly all our provisions ; whilst the remainder 

 (enough for about two months) was carefully placed in 

 the boats. The small firewood which we chopped up 

 from the masts and spars was set up in piles ; the boats, 

 first in one place and then in another, as after digging 

 them out of the snow we had to put them in a more 

 sheltered spot. 



The hatchway we put up to catch the wind before the 

 door of the coal-house. A man-rope served for descending 

 into the house, so that it was more like a fox's hole with 

 its roof scarcely rising above the level of the snow than 

 anything else. 



The large flag was saved too. At the rear of the house, 

 on a snow-hill, we put up the topgallant mast as a flag- 

 staff ; and in fine weather hoisted it for our pleasure as 

 well as for the possible chance of attracting the notice 

 of any Esquimaux settlement on the coast. 



At last, by degrees, order gained the upper hand. 

 The confused heap of individual belongings had each 

 found their owner. The warming arrangement was 

 good, for in an atmospheric temperature of —13° Fahr. 

 we could in our hut, with the protection of the snow 

 surrounding us, get a warmth of 72^°. Often the firing 

 necessary for preparing the meals was sufiicient also for 

 heating ; and therefore, to spare the wood, we hardly ever 

 used the second stove. The damp was remarkably 

 diminished, for it easily escaped through the dormer' 

 window, which also let in fresh air. 



I 2 



