A HARD STRUGGLE 209 



supper with, contrived a cooking -pot out of the empty- 

 petroleum tin, and hung it over in the approved fashion. 

 At the first start-off we lighted the fire just outside the 

 tent door, but soon gave that up, as, for the first thing, we 

 nearly burned up the tent, and, secondly, the smoke came 

 in till we could hardly see out of our eyes. But it 

 warmed well and looked wonderfully cheerful. Then we 

 moved it farther off, where it could neither burn up the 

 tent nor smoke us out ; but therewith all the joy of it 

 was departed. When we had about burned up the whole 

 sledge and succeeded in getting a pot of boiling water, 

 with the further result of having nearly melted the floe 

 through on which we were living, I gave up the idea of 

 cooking with sledges and went back to our trusty friend, 

 the ' Primus' — and a sociable and entertaining friend, too, 

 which one can have by one's side as one lies in the bag. 

 We have as much petroleum, I should imagine, as we 

 shall require for the journey before us, and why bother 

 about anything else ? If the petroleum should come to 

 an end too soon, why, then we can get as much train-oil 

 from bear and seal and walrus as we shall require. I am 

 very anxious to see the result of our reloading. Our 

 two kayak sledges have undoubtedly become somewhat 

 heavier, but then we shall have six dogs to each as long 

 as they last. Our patience has been rewarded at last 

 with the most brilliant sunshine and sparkling sky. It is 

 so warm in the tent that I am lying basking in the heat. 



One might almost think one's self under an awning on a 

 II —14 



