PREPARATIONS FOR WINTERING. 333 



sary. The travellers returned to the island in good 

 spirits, and Mr. Sengstacke and his companions had the 

 unexpected good fortune to kill two reindeer. 



Thus we were all together once more, and were able 

 seriously to set to work upon our winter preparations. 

 It was indeed high time. The thermometer at night 

 was already below 14° Fahr., and we could expect 

 nothing but an increase of cold. 



The first requisite was to find a secure position for the 

 ship. It ought not to come in contact with drifting ice, 

 but remain quietly on the spot where it was frozen in, 

 until summer should free it from its icy fetters. The 

 experience of former Arctic explorers had proved that 

 the most serious dangers and difficulties might arise 

 under unfavourable circumstances. The eminent Arctic 

 explorer Kane was in his first voyage blocked in the 

 pack-ice for nearly nine months ; and on the second he 

 was obliged to leave the frozen-in brig in Rensselaer har- 

 bour, and make a most difficult journey with the boats. 



For ourselves, according to human calculations, we 

 might look forw^ard to future events without any mis- 

 giving. Our ship had run at the right time into the 

 finest winter harbour that we could desire. It seemed 

 as if nature had made it for the Germania. 



Almost circular, with a peculiarly narrow entrance, it 

 lay on the south-east point of the island. To the north, 

 the far-spreading land and a mountain chain of more 

 than 900 feet high formed a continual protection against 

 the devastating northern storms, as well as from the 

 rushing current of the pack-ice ; and Walrus Island, lying 

 to the south-east, protected the harbour from the strong 

 pressing and pushing of the ice, which, drifting by the 



