A TRIP TO CAPE RUSSELL 149 



it quite impossible to keep one's eyes open. It was 

 plain that I could not face the elements even through 

 the short distance to the igloos, and I gave it up. 



Even in the shack it was so cold that I was com- 

 pelled to wrap in skins to keep comfortable, and to 

 add to my unpleasant situation the stove refused to 

 draw and would scarcely keep a fire. Inside every- 

 thing was encrusted thickly with frost, and the place 

 was like a cold-storage room. 



On this day the sun reached his lowest declination 

 south, and would now begin his approach. This was 

 a comfort-giving thought, even though many weeks 

 must yet elapse before his life-giving blessed light 

 would come to dispel the enshrouding gloom, which 

 had left its imprint upon all living things. My com- 

 plexion had changed to a sickly greenish yellow, almost 

 ghostly. Everything seemed to absorb the tinge, 

 though it was less noticeable in the Eskimos than in 

 me, for their naturally yellowish skin appeared al- 

 ways to hold the color to some extent. 



For another day the blizzard raged; then the stars 

 came out again, to peer dimly down through snow 

 still driven and drifting before the continuing gale. 

 When the blizzard ceased, Kulutinguah came over 

 and helped me bank the shack with snow blocks ; and 

 when we had finished, the force of the gale was 

 scarcely felt within. 



Then I lighted a lantern, and in the pitchy dark- 

 ness walked three miles and back on the ice foot. It 

 seemed to me that I must get out for exercise in spite 

 of wind and darkness, and it did me good. Heavy 



