404 'J'HE GERMAN ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



pcarmigan. On the first bright days tlie hares gambolled 

 upon the southern slopes of the Hasenberg, as if they 

 had never suffered from the long night and snow-storms. 

 They, like the ptarmigan, had chosen the tender willow- 

 shoots for their food. 



The men now prepared eagerly for the intended sledge 

 journey. By the middle of February the tent, coverings, 

 furs, and other necessaries, were so far finished that 

 they could be laid by the side of the sledge, which was 

 already put together. The latter was then laden and 

 tried. It was our intention to begin the journey at the 

 commencement of March. We expected no real hindrance 

 from the cold, and we lived in the hope of happily being 

 able to reach 80° N.L. ; we also made a successful attempt 

 to sail the sledge. The astronomers had forwarded their 

 work so energetically that they hoped to begin their 

 geodetical journey about the middle of March. For this 

 all was prepared. The sledges caused us the chief 

 trouble, for, except one large one, the others were so 

 constructed that for long and difhcult journeys they were 

 very insufficient. We decided upon building one that 

 should answer every purpose. 



The weather in the second half of February remained 

 changeable — now fine and clear, now gloomy skies and 

 some falls of snow. The Northern Lights shone the 

 whole night through in the loveliest of colours, unim- 

 peded by the light of the moon, which often emitted a 

 halo. At the same time, light breezes blew from all 

 directions, and only a few storms, of shoi-t duration dis- 

 turbed our work in the open air. Encouraging now was 

 the rapid lengthening of the days. In tho middle of the 

 month, about five a.m., the first dusky twilight might 



