19"] A BLIZZARD 267 



It is worth remembering how attractive this style can be — 

 in lecturing one is inclined to give too much attention to con- 

 necting links which join one episode to another. A lecture need 

 not be a connected story; perhaps it is better it should not be. 



It was my night on duty last night and I watched the on- 

 coming of a blizzard with exceptional beginnings. The sky 

 became very gradually overcast between i and 4 a.m. About 

 2.30 the temperature rose on a steep grade from - 20° to —3°; 

 the barometer was falling, rapidly for these regions. Soon after 

 4 the wind came with a rush, but without snow or drift. For 

 a time it was more gusty than has ever yet been recorded even 

 in this region. In one gust the wind rose from 4 to 68 m.p.h. 

 and fell again to 20 m.p.h. within a minute; another reached 

 80 m.p.h., but not from such a low point of origin. The effect 

 in the hut was curious; for a space all would be quiet, then 

 a shattering blast would descend with a clatter and rattle past 

 ventilator and chimneys, so sudden, so threatening, that it was 

 comforting to remember the solid structure of our building. 

 The suction of such a gust is so heavy that even the heavy snow- 

 covered roof of the stable, completely sheltered on the lee side 

 of the main building, is violently shaken — one could well imagine 

 the plight of our adventurers at C. Crozier when their roof 

 was destroyed. The snow which came at 6 lessened the gustiness 

 and brought the ordinary phenomena of a blizzard. It is blow- 

 ing hard to-day, with broken windy clouds and roving bodies of 

 drift. A wild day for the return of the sun. Had it been 

 fine to-day we should have seen the sun for the first time; yes- 

 terday it shone on the lower foothills to the west, but to-day 

 we see nothing but gilded drift clouds. Yet it is grand to have 

 daylight rushing at one. 



Wednesday, August 23. — We toasted the sun in champagne 

 last night, coupling Victor Campbell's name as his birthday 

 coincides. The return of the sun could not be appreciated as 

 we have not had a glimpse of it, and the taste of the champagne 

 went wholly unappreciated; it was a very mild revel. Mean- 

 while the gale continues. Its full force broke last night with an 

 average of nearly 70 m.p.h. for some hours: the temperature 

 has been up to + 10° and the snowfall heavy. At seven this 

 morning the air was thicker with whirling drift than it has ever 

 been. 



