THE WINTER NIGHT 419 



moonshine: in the north the faint flush of evenino- and 

 the aurora over the southern sky, now Hke a row of 

 flaming spears, then changing into a silvery veil, un- 

 dulating in wavy folds with the wind, every here and 

 there interspersed witli red sprays. These wonderful 

 night effects are ever new, and never fail to captivate 

 the soul." 



" Thursday, March 15th. This morning 41.7°, and at 

 8 P.M. 40.7° Fahr. below zero, while the daytime was rath- 

 er warmer. At noon it was 40.5 and at 4 p.m. 39° Fahr. 

 below zero. It would almost seem as if the sun beoan 

 to have power. 



" The dogs are strange creatures. This evening they 

 are probably sweltering in their kennels again, for four 

 or five of them are lying outside or on the roof. When 

 there are 50 degrees of cold most of them huddle together 

 inside, and lie as close to one another as possible. Then, 

 too, they are very loath to go out for a walk; they prefer 

 to lie in the sun under the lee of the ship. But now 

 they find it so mild and such pleasant walking that to-day 

 it was not difficult to get them to follow. 



" Friday, March i6th. Sverdrup has of late been 

 occupied in making sails for the ship's boats. To-day 

 there was a light southwesterly breeze, so we tried one 

 of the sails on two hand-sledges lashed together. It is 

 first-rate sailing, and does not require much wind to 

 make them glide along. This would be a great assist- 

 ance if we had to go home over the ice. 



