372 TflE GERMAN AUnTTC EXrEDITION. 



gent directions. Moreover, it was fortunate that Mr. 

 Sengstacko liad, on tlic 5tli of November, returned on 

 board Avilli tlio sledge left behind by Payer; for the 

 whole of the following days there were storms from the 

 north, with thick drifting snow, thus putting a stop to 

 all business in the open air. During the night the force 

 of the squall seemed to mcrcase, so that by the morning 

 it was no longer possible to go on shore ; but we hung a 

 thermometer against the mainmast, in a place where no 

 local influence could bo brought to bear upon it, and 

 durhig the storm it showed exactly the same tempera- 

 ture on land as on the ice. 



Thus began Sunday, the 7th of November ; but the 

 prevailing quiet on board from the cessation of all work 

 made the raging of the storm without more noticeable. 

 Boreas did not acknowledge the day of rest, but gaiiunl 

 strength hour by hour, and howled round us without the 

 slightest intermission. From time to time there were 

 perfect hurricane gusts, causing the ice-bound sliip to 

 quiver throughout : sucli weather we had never before 

 experienced. If we ventured beyond the closely-shut 

 hatchways on to the deck, we Avere nearly deafened by 

 the blustering, roaring, and crashing with which the 

 wind broke upon the ship and howled round it. Conver- 

 sntion was not to be thought of, for the loudest word of 

 command could not be heard over the whole ship. 



Looking through the rifts of the tightly-closed opening, 

 one could see nothing but the everlasting softly-falling 

 thick masses of fine snowy particles. No trace of land; 

 indeed, one could scarcely distinguish the next block of 

 ice. It was no wonder, from the increasing violence of 

 the storm, that our thoughts, too, should become stormy. 



