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 1 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 -f- io and the snowfall heavy. At seven this 

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

 been. 



