NIGHT-QUARTEES. 359 



appeared like one single beam, so that involuntarily we 

 were drawn to the conclusion that the appearance re- 

 sembled a flattened lens, or a ring, in the centre of which 

 we were exactly placed. Night had spread its wings 

 over the comfortless dreariness. The surrounding moun- 

 tains appeared like black, shadowy masses. 



The sledge is now freed from its burden, — a much 

 more complicated affair than might be supposed; for, 

 though we had only taken the merest necessaries, we 

 had to be very careful of the instruments, cooking appa- 

 ratus, chmbing-poles, lamp, &c., also the barometer and 

 thermometer to read off". 



In Europe we generally undress to go to rest. In 

 Arctic regions, on the contrary, we generally dress. 

 Each one frees his long beard from the clusters of ice 

 which had settled upon it, and brings out his reserve- 

 stockings or his bear-skin shoes. The feet are thrust 

 into the sleeping-sack, and the body follows. The space 

 is so narrow, and the party so closely packed, that 

 the puUing-off of boots can only be accomplished by 

 sitting on one's neighbour, and every one must inevitably 

 step over or on another at the least movement, and 

 seeking for one's fur gloves necessitates kneeling either 

 upon the face or the shins of some one else, thus causing 

 an indignant remonstrance. From the spot where the 

 knee rests issues a howl ; you start back unsus- 

 piciously — knock over the lamp (an uncovered tin dish 

 filled with bears' -grease which hung from the gable of 

 the tent by a wire) ; a flood of oil ensues — but who cares 

 for that ? But it is dangerous when the tent gets on 

 fire — an accident which happened twice on our journey. 

 In a moment several square feet of covering, on which 



