JANUARY I TO MAY 17, i8g6 681 



were for the present left upon the ice. The sun at this time 

 became so strong that on April 19th the snow began to melt 

 away on the tent ; along the ship's side it had been melting for 

 several days. 



The first harbinger of spring we saw this year was a snow- 

 bunting, which made its appearance on the evening of April 

 25th. It took up permanent quarters in one of the sealino-- 

 boats, where it was treated with groats and scraps of food, and 

 soon got very tame. It favored us with its presence for several 

 days, and then flew away. The Fraui had evidently been a 

 welcome resting-place for it ; it had eaten its fill, and gathered 

 new strength for the remainder of its journey. On May 3d we 

 were again visited by a snow-bunting, and a couple of days later 

 by two more. I fanc\' it was our former guest, who in the 

 meantime had found its mate, and now returned with her to 

 call and thank us for our hospitality. They remained with us 

 about an hour, and did their best to cheer us with their chirping 

 and twittering; but as the dogs would not give them any peace, 

 but chased them everywhere, they finally took flight, and did 

 not return again. 



After the first few days in May we removed the temporary 

 deck, which had been laid over the davits, cleared the main- 

 deck, and took both the sealing-boats and the long-boats on 

 board. The gangway was also removed, and a ladder put in its 

 place. Next we shipped the rest of the coal depot, the dog 

 provisions, and the sledges ; in fact, we took in everything that 

 was left on the ice. All that was now left to be done was to 

 get the engine ready for getting up steam, and this we set 

 about on May i8th. 



The dogs got on well in their kennels on the ice, in spite of 

 the prolonged and strong cold, and we had very little trouble 

 with them. But after the first month in the new year some of 

 the bigger dogs became so fierce towards the smaller ones that 

 we had to take two of the worst tyrants on board and keep 

 them locked up for a time. They also did a good deal of mis- 

 chief whenever they had an opportunity. One day, for instance, 

 they began to gnaw at the kayaks that were placed on the top 



