POST NUBILA PnCEBUS. 153 



experiments on liis fire apparatus in order to insure the 

 greatest economy; Konracl composes poems; tlie carpenter 

 relates Vegesack stories, and how as captain of a gun- 

 boat he sailed by the help of a chart of the Mediterranean 

 from Bremen to Hull, and how by means of soundings he 

 found himself at Eamsgate ; I studied Heine's poems, or 

 carved boats, and so on ; Max tried his hand at drawing. 

 Yesterday it gave over snowing ; we reviewed our pro- 

 visions and divided them equally. We have about 27 lbs. 

 of bread per man, 5 lbs. of bacon, some coffee and cocoa, 

 which we hope will last us quite a month. Our appetite 

 is boundless, and the scanty rations to which we are 

 restricted, prevent us from ever feeling satisfied. I 

 have made a small pair of scales, in which I weigh the 

 bread to my crew ; the bacon I cut by my eye in pretty 

 equal pieces, which is then given out by call to the men. 

 This is always an exciting moment ; all eyes brighten at 

 the sight of the bacon, and a piece of bread is looked 

 upon as tenderly as the finest confection. Fritz pretends 

 to have discovered that one feels much more satisfied by 

 bolting the little one eats, and not biting it much : it 

 seems to last longer ! We almost look our eyes out after 

 a seal. Oil and fresh meat would be a delicious addition 

 to our provisions. It is a peculiar and very mixed 

 feelin<y, to think that in six weeks we shall have nothino- 

 to eat ; if then we have not reached the land, we must 

 drop off one after the other ; but serious as is the thought, 

 there are times when it seems irresistibly comical. Of 

 tobacco we have plenty, and a good portion is consumed 

 every day. Fritz is making himself a new pipe. To-day, 

 the 19th of May, is again lovely weather. Whilst I am 

 writing this at half-past nine a.m., the warmth is 72^° Fahr. 



