THE WHITE WORLD 



vessels, after which the alcohol lamp would be brought out, 

 placed on the floor between the sleeping-bags, and lighted. 

 The tent was tightly closed to keep out the wind and drift, 

 and while the cook was engaged with the meals the others 

 were preparing to retire to the depths of their respective 

 bags. The foot-gear worn during the day was removed, 

 dry stockings were substituted, and over these was drawn 

 a pair of warm dog-skin boots, the hair being turned in- 

 ward. When the meal was ready the others sat up in their 

 bags, receiving from the cook their portions in tin plates 

 and tin cups. The menu was simple, consisting of a stew 

 of some sort, hard bread, and tea or chocolate. Coffee was 

 considered objectionable, and was therefore never used by 

 us while on long sledge journeys. As a base for our stews 

 we had the choice of fresh musk ox beef; boiled, roast or 

 corned canned beef, bacon, sausage, pemmican, baked beans, 

 etc., which gave us a fair variety. The meal finished, the 

 cook prepared the food for breakfast and filled the cooking 

 vessels with ice, brought into the tent all food not in tins, 

 that it might not be stolen by the dogs while we were sleep- 

 ing, and then he was ready to join the others in their bags. 

 In the morning the cook got up first, and with chattering 

 teeth and much shivering cooked the breakfast and served 

 it to the others sitting up in their sleeping-bags. Dressing 

 hurriedly, the equipment was packed and securely lashed 

 on the sledge and we were ready for another day's march. 



Frederik, the Eskimo dog-driver, was a faithful, con- 

 scientious and hard-working fellow, and from daily associa- 

 tion we grew very fond of him. He worked incessantly 

 during the march, urging on his tired team with voice and 

 whip, and at night slept soundly, undisturbed by the creak- 

 ing of the tent or the howling of the dogs. But we were 

 not happy in the companionship of this man, for he had a 

 snore, a deep bass, awful snore such as might rupture do- 

 mestic peace or move one to desperate deeds. 



Having no journal to write, Frederik would fall asleep 

 immediately after the evening meal, and by the time Lock- 

 wood and myself had completed our record for the day and 

 were ready to slide down into our sleeping-bag, mournful 

 sounds would be issuing from the bag on the opposite side 

 of the tent. Of course under such circumstances sleep was 



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