366 THE VOYAGE OF THE 'DISCOVERY' [Sept. 



raised out of the bag to contemplate the green canopy above, 

 but no one cares to look long at the shivering canvas and 

 trembling bamboos ; a glance is sufficient to show that the 

 conditions without are unchanged. And as the long day goes 

 by and the second night creeps on we eat our modest supper 

 and once more resort to the bag. As we settle ourselves for 

 the night we are conscious of the first sign of break in the 

 gale. The wind is becoming more squally ; during the furious 

 gusts the tent flaps more madly than ever, but between 

 whiles there is a sensible indication of peace, and we shut 

 ourselves in with hopes that we are approaching the end of 

 our imprisonment. 



By the early hours of the morning the improvement is very 

 marked ; we are conscious that for brief spells the canvas is 

 still, and that even in the squalls it is less violently agitated. 

 This is the beginning of the end : the air is probably still full 

 of flying snow-crystals, but in a few hours they will be settling 

 and the nimbus clouds will have passed us by. When we rise 

 at the first streaks of dawn it is to a brighter prospect ; the light 

 which penetrates the green walls of the tent is sufficient to 

 show that there must be a clear sky. These walls are fluttering 

 only at rare intervals and in gentle fashion, chiefly because the 

 wind has fallen, but partly also because they are banked high 

 with drift snow which has caused them to sag in on every side 

 until the inner space is narrowed by some feet. The door is 

 completely drifted up by a heavy bank. 



After rolling up the sleeping-bag the first thing to be done 

 is to effect an exit, and this we do by lying on our backs and kick- 

 ing for all we are worth at the snow-banked canvas. After a 

 bit we can untie the door, and, still kicking, force our way out ; 

 then the shovel is found, and with its aid the drifts are soon 

 diminished. 



We drop at once into our usual camping routine, but as the 

 cook prepares the breakfast we have time to look about us and 

 to note the havoc wrought by the gale. The sledges are 

 almost covered, and we know well that the boxes and tanks on 

 them will be found partly, if not wholly, filled. Our tent is 



