6i8 APPENDIX 



into the sport, as a welcome break in the prolonged oppressive 

 solitude and monotony, rushed ahead of us and scared the birds 

 away before we could get a shot at them. 



As I have already mentioned, the mill had to be taken down. 

 The shaft broke one fine day below the upper driving-wheel, and 

 had to be removed and taken to the forge for repair. Pettersen 

 welded it together again, and on May 9th the mill was again in 

 sufficiently good order for use. But it wore out very speedily, 

 more especially in the gearings, so that, after the first week or 

 two in June, it was almost useless. We therefore pulled it down, 

 and stowed away all wooden parts and castings on the ridge on 

 the port side, except portions of hard wood, which we kept on 

 board, and found ver\- useful for making up into sledge-shafts and 

 other things. 



The weather was good all through March. April, and May, 

 with mild easterly breezes or calms, and, as a rule, a clear atmos- 

 phere. Once or twice the wind veered round to the south or 

 west, but these changes were invariably of short duration. This 

 settled calm weather at last became quite a trial to us, as it con- 

 tributed in a great measure to increase the dreariness and monot- 

 ony of the scene around us, and had a depressing effect on our 

 spirits. Matters improved a little towards the end of May, when 

 for a time we had a fresh westerly breeze. To be sure this was 

 a contrary wind, but it was, at any rate, a little change. On 

 June 8th the wind veered round to the east again, and now in- 

 creased in strength, so that on Sunday, the gth, we had half a 

 gale from the E.S.E., with a velocity of 33 feet per second, being 

 the strongest fair wind we had had for a long time. 



It was astonishing what a change a single day of fair wind 

 would work in the spirits of all on board. Those who previously 

 moved about cireamily and listlessly now awakened to fresh 

 courage and enterprise. Ever}- face beamed with satisfaction. 

 Previously our daily intercourse consisted of the monosyllables 

 "Yes" and "No"; now we were brimming over with jokes and 

 fun from morning to night : laughter and song and lively chat 

 was heard all around. And with our spirits rose our hopes for 

 a favorable drift. The chart was brought out again and again. 



