BEFORE THE POLAR NIGHT. 103 



It cleared, for a change, on October 31, and the day was spent 

 in driving blocks of ice to the kennels, the work progressing 

 rapidly. Everybody was so taken up that I thought the day, 

 which was my birthday, would pass unnoticed. But in this I 

 was mistaken ; there were many who remembered it, and it was 

 kept as was usual with these occasions. The evening passed 

 very pleasantly, and we did not separate until past twelve 

 o'clock. 



I was the recipient of many gifts ; among others, a hammer and 

 some caliper-compasses, both home-made in the ' Tram's ' smithy. 

 My most important present, however, was from Fosheim, who en- 

 riched me with a whole keg of tobacco ! So provident had that 

 man been since he left home, that from the abundant store he then 

 brought with him, he was able to give away a whole keg of such 

 a valuable commodity. 



On November 1 Peder began his ice-gauging for the winter. 

 He did it in the same way as previous winters ; that is to say, 

 measured the ice in different places and at regular intervals ; in 

 some places every tenth or fourteenth day, in others, every month. 



By November 4 three kennels were complete, and the builders 

 then set to work on some for Fosheim's team, as he himself had 

 been entirely taken up with other things, and had not had time to 

 think of his dogs. 



On Monday, November 5, Peder, Hassel, and Stolz equipped 

 for a journey to Nordstrand to fetch meat, while I went a recon- 

 noitring trip up the valley to see what the snow was like and 

 find the best way for them. The following day we had breakfast 

 at seven o'clock, and the caravan set off a little before eight. I 

 went with them as guide for a way, and we covered the ground 

 quickly northwards through the valley. They returned about 

 four the following afternoon, along with Baumann. 



Baumann and Peder each drove from the depot five half- 

 animals, and Bay, Stolz, and Hassel four each ; in all twenty-two 

 half-animals. But up at the watershed the three latter had 

 driven themselves into some grit-hills and heaps of stones, and 

 had had to leave part of their loads behind namely, two, two, and 

 a half-animal respectively consequently seventeen halves were 



