CAPTIVITY IN BAADSPJORD. 229 



consequently we had to open the door whenever it was in use, 

 but it was warm enough in any case, and by so doing we did not 

 feel the want of the ventilator. 



Our house was not only warm, but it soon became convenient 

 and comfortable. The thwarts made capital shelves, and the 

 lockers fore and aft in the boat might have been made on 

 purpose for storing cups and food. Altogether we were very well 

 satisfied with our architectural efforts, and spent many cosy even- 

 ings in the ' boat-house,' though I should explain that it was not 

 until later that we took it into constant use, as it was not ready 

 until the end of our captivity. 



We took turns to be cook day and day about. We did not 

 have coffee for breakfast at this time, and we were also very 

 economical with the butter, as we wanted to have some in reserve 

 for the return journey. Some of the bread which had been soaked 

 in sea- water we ate up with a good conscience, for it would have 

 been too heavy to drag with us on a sledge-journey, and we 

 managed to get through one of the boxes. Our method of making 

 it in any way eatable was by first warming it in the frying-pan 

 for it had become simply a cake of ice, and that not of the most 

 palatable kind and then spreading on it preserved cod-liver, which 

 we had with us in tins ; we all liked it so much that we almost 

 forgot the butter. We had a good supply of groats, of which we 

 ate as much as we wanted every day in the shape of porridge, and 

 always in the soup. 



One day, towards the end of our exile, we made up our minds 

 to see the last of our supply of seal-flesh. It was already some- 

 what high, and we therefore decided to boil it down for soup, 

 hoping that with a liberal addition of groats it would slip down 

 fairly easily. We were ravenously hungry, and filled the cooking- 

 pot to the brim. Unhappy man that I was for it was my 

 turn to be cook that day I managed to burn the mess ! High 

 soup is bad enough, though I think burnt soup is worse, but when 

 it is both high and burnt, the resulting taste is about as bad as it 

 can be ; and for the culinary abomination I turned out that day I 

 make full acknowledgment and apology. 



But this was not the end of the matter. The next time we 



