EQUIPPED FOR AN ARCTIC CRUISE 41 



berth; I rolled into the lowest one, which was on a 

 level with the floor. The springs of these beds con- 

 sisted of thin slats laid upon cross pieces at the ends. 

 On these was spread an old blanket, and upon this we 

 arranged our sleeping bags, unlaced, so that we could 

 crawl into them without difficulty. In a few weeks, 

 after I had got accustomed to this bed, I slept very 

 comfortably. With the compulsory life-preserver, folded 

 up and placed at the head of my bed, the space between 

 that and the other end was exactly long enough to fit 

 into. At the outer side of the bunk, a board about 

 six inches high served to keep the occupant and his 

 bed together. This good fit proved to be useful. When 

 the "Abler" was performing her acrobatic feats in a 

 storm the would-be sleeper wedged himself firmly at 

 head and foot and, by drawing up one leg, braced him- 

 self sideways, with the knee against the board, reducing 

 to a minimum the danger of battering his brains out 

 by longitudinal motion, or of joining, by lateral rolling, 

 the loose articles which were sHding about the state- 

 room floor. 



Supper was served at five o'clock in the afternoon, 

 according to ship's usage. To approach our food was 

 a simple matter in smooth weather, but if a high sea 

 was running it required something Uke the following 

 maneuver : 



Grasping the stateroom door knob, of which the 

 latch was broken, one pushed stoutly outward against 

 the strong wind, stepping to the narrow deck, which 

 was about three feet wide, and seized the low rail, about 

 two and a half feet high, to prevent one's self from being 

 thrown overboard. Still holding the rail firmly, one 

 shut the door with the other hand; then, by means of 



