THE LONG NIGHT 79 



west wind, and at the end of three hours I returned 

 to camp with both cheeks frost-bitten. 



The following day I tried my luck again in another 

 pond somewhat farther away, and succeeded in spear- 

 ing six large trout. I threw my spear at one big 

 fellow that must have weighed fully twelve pounds, 

 but with the fisherman's proverbial luck, this biggest 

 fish of all got away. 



On my return to camp that evening I witnessed 

 from a hilltop another most remarkable sunset, in 

 point of variety of sky colorings. These colorings 

 included red, blue, brown, black, white and a peculiar 

 changing green. With the large icebergs towering 

 hundreds of feet above the northern ice pack it was 

 a spectacle never to be forgotten. 



The long night was approaching with steady and 

 certain tread. Daily the sun at meridian hung down 

 in the heavens until it barely circled along the north- 

 western horizon. Heavy winds and terrific snow 

 storms swept over us with only brief intermissions, 

 and the snow grew very deep. Even on stormy days, 

 and whenever the conditions at all permitted, I 

 tramped over the hills to the trout lakes, or hunted 

 hares, and often took long walks along the ice foot, 

 where mighty icebergs and shifting floes always in- 

 terested and fascinated me, as an ever changing pan- 

 orama. These tramps gave needed exercise to keep 

 me in condition for the harder expeditions to come 

 later. 



When I could not get out, and of an evening, I 

 occupied the time studying the natives and building 



