I9 o 3 ] ECLIPSE OF THE SUN 159 



expeditions and the start of the longer summer ones we had 

 several small excitements on board. 



In one of these we suffered a grievous disappointment. 

 Our nautical almanac told us that there would be an eclipse 

 of the sun on September 21. It was not to be a total eclipse 

 for us, but nine-tenths of the sun would be obscured. 

 Bernacchi was especially busy in preparation for this event, 

 and all placed themselves under his orders for the occasion. 

 When the great day came all telescopes and the spectroscopic 

 camera were trained in the right direction, magnetic instru- 

 ments were set to run at quick speed, and observers were told 

 off to watch the meteorological instruments, the tide gauge, and 

 everything else on which the absence of sun could possibly 

 have a direct or indirect effect. Everything, in fact, was ready 

 but the sun itself, which obstinately refused to come out j from 

 early morning a thick stratus cloud hung over our heads, and 

 as the hours went by we were forced to abandon all hope of 

 a clearance. There may have been an eclipse of the sun on 

 September 21, 1903, as the almanac said, but we should none 

 of us have liked to swear to the fact. 



After our return from the spring journey, appetites had 

 increased to such an alarming extent that we began to have 

 renewed doubts as to the adequacy of our stock of seal-meat, 

 and by this time all the especial luxuries in the shape of livers 

 and kidneys had entirely disappeared. Seals rarely came up 

 on the ice, and when they did our wretched dogs, the puppies 

 of the previous year, did their best to worry them down again. 

 It was at this juncture that our hunters were called upon, and 

 their chief, Skelton, devised an excellent harpoon with hinged 

 barbs which proved the most effective weapon. With a line 

 attached, it was kept in readiness at one of the nearer fishing 

 holes, and the keenest sportsmen would go out and wait by the 

 hour, harpoon in hand, ready for the first unfortunate seal 

 which should come up to breathe. The long wait in the cold 

 was rather a drawback, but when at last a black snout appeared 

 on the surface and the murderous weapon was plunged down- 

 ward there was great excitement, and loud shouts were raised 



