28 FARTHEST NORTH 



there was an arc, which just touched it at the upper edge, 

 but the two ends of wliich curved downward instead of 

 upward. It looked as if it were part of a circle whose 

 centre was situated far below the moon. At the lower 

 edf^e of the ring there was a large mock moon, or, rath- 

 er, a large luminous patch, which was most pronounced 

 at the upper part, where it touched the ring, and had a 

 yellow upper edge, from which it spread downward in 

 the form of a triangle. It looked as if it might be an arc 

 of a circle on the lower side of, and in contact with, the 

 ring. Right across the moon there were drifting several 

 luminous cirrhus streaks. The whole produced a fan- 

 tastic effect. 



"Saturday, December 22d. The same southeasterly 

 wind has turned into a regular storm, howling and rat- 

 tling cheerily through the rigging, and we are doubtless 

 drifting northward at a good rate. If I go outside the 

 tent on deck, the wind whistles round my ears, and the 

 snow beats into my face, and I am soon covered with it. 

 From the snow^-hut observatory, or even at a lesser dis- 

 tance, the Frain is invisible, and it is almost impossible 

 to keep one's eyes open, owing to the blinding snow. I 

 wonder whether we have not passed 83° } But I am 

 afraid this joy will not be a lasting one ; the barometer 

 has fallen alarmingly, and the wind has generally been 

 up to 13 or 14 metres (44 or 50 feet) per second. About 

 half-past twelve last night the vessel suddenly received a 

 strong pressure, rattling everything on board. I could 



