LAND AT LAST 435 



used up, and we continued to wear the clothes we had 

 throughout the winter. 



These walks, too, were a doubtful pleasure, because 

 there is always a wind there, and it blew hard under the 

 steep cliff. We felt it a wonderful relief when it occasion- 

 ally happened to be almost calm. As a rule, the wind 

 howled above us and lashed the snow along, so that 

 everything was wrapped in mist. Many days would some- 

 times pass almost without our putting our heads out of 

 the passage, and it was only bare necessity that drove 

 us out to fetch ice for drinking-water, or a leg or carcass 

 of a bear for food, or some blubber for fuel. As a rule, 

 we also brought in some sea-water ice, or, if there were 

 an opening or a crack to be found, a little sea- water for 

 our soup. 



When we came in, and had mustered up appetite for 

 another meal, we had to prepare supper, eat till we w^ere 

 satisfied, and then get into our bag and sleep as long as 

 possible to pass the time. On the whole, we had quite a 

 comfortable time in our hut. By means of our train-oil 

 lamps we could keep the temperature in the middle of 

 the room at about freezing-point. Near the wall, how- 

 ever, it was considerably colder, and there the damp 

 deposited itself in the shape of beautiful hoar-frost 

 crystals, so that the stones were quite white ; and in 

 happy moments we could dream that we dwelt in marble 

 halls. This splendor, however, had its disadvantages, 

 for when the outside temperature rose, or when we heat- 



