390 THE GERMAN ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



The last week in the year passed without any particular 

 event. Twice Boreas visited us again, but he seemed to 

 have lost his energy, for he dropped after about ten hours, 

 causing no further disturbance. The temperature re- 

 mained high the whole time, and on the 27th even 

 reached 28° Fahr. 



Thus the year came to an end, and with brighter 

 expectations could we look forward to the future. 



St. Silvester's Eve* passed in the usual manner; we 

 sat cheerfully together over our wine, amusing ourselves 

 with the innocent game of pouring the lead, and so on, 

 while awaiting the twelfth hour, when with the clinking 

 of the glasses we expressed reciprocal wishes for the 

 fulfilment of our hopes and for the success of our expe- 

 dition. The astronomers had calculated when the mid- 

 night hour would reach the different places in Germany ; 

 so each individual had a particular touch of the glasses, 

 and " To what we love best" at home. The kind givers 

 were not forgotten, nor our comrades of the Hansa, 

 whom we believed had long since run into the Weser. 



Quickly the hours passed, and one after the other 

 sought his hard couch. 



* December 31, Festival of Silvester, Bishop of Rome. 



