BY SLEDGE AXD KAYAK 247 



It was only a short shower; first of all it drizzled, then 

 came large, heavy drops, and we took shelter inside the 

 tent in order not to get wet — but it was rain, rain ! It 

 was quite a summer feeling to sit in here and listen to 

 the drops splashing on the tent wall. As regards the 

 going, this thaw will probabl)' be a good thing if we 

 should have frost ao^ain ; but if the snow is to continue 

 as it is now, it will be a fine mess to oet throufjh amontr 

 all these ridges and hummocks. Instead of such a con- 

 tingency, it would be better to have as much rain as pos- 

 sible, to melt and wash the ice clear of snow. Well, 

 well, it must do as it likes ! It cannot be Ions: now be- 

 fore it takes a turn for the better — land or open water, 

 whichever it may be. 



"Saturday, June 8th. Finished and tried the kayaks 

 yesterday at last, but only by dint of sticking to our 

 work from the evening of the day before yesterday to the 

 evening of yesterday. It is remarkable that we are able 

 to continue working so long at a stretch. If we were at 

 home we should be very tired and hungry, with so many 

 working hours between meals ; but here it does not seem 

 more than it should be, although our appetites certainly 

 are first-rate and our sleeping powers good. It does not 

 seem as if we were growing weak or sickening for scurvy 

 just yet. As a matter of fact, so far as I know, we are 

 unusually strong and healthy just now and in full 

 elasticity. 



" When we tried the kayaks in a little lane just here 



