THE SPRING AND SUMMER OF i8<p4 517 



sunbeams refracted in the cool crystal blue of the ice. 

 How unutterably delightful does not this world appear to 

 us on some stifling summer day at home ? 



" Have rested and ' kept Sunday.' I could not remain 

 in the whole day, so took a trip over the ice. Progress 

 is easy except for the lanes. 



" Hansen practised kayak-paddling this afternoon on 

 the pool around the ship, from which several channels 

 diverge over the ice ; but he was not content with 

 paddling round in them, but must, of course, make an 

 experiment in capsizing and recovering himself as the 

 Eskimos do. It ended by his not coming up again, 

 losing his paddle, remaining head downward in the 

 water, and beating about with his hands till the kyak 

 filled, and he got a cold bath from top to toe. Nordahl, 

 who was standing by on the ice to help him, at last found 

 it necessary to go in after him and raise him up on an 

 even keel again, to the great amusement of us others. 



" One can notice that it is summer. This evening a 

 game of cards is being played on deck, with ' Peik's ' * 

 big pot for a card-table. One could almost think it was 

 an August evening at home ; only the toddy is wanting, 

 but the pipes and cigars we have. 



"Sunday, August 12th. We had a shooting compe- 

 tition in the forenoon. 



" A glorious evening. I took a stroll over the ice 



* The name given to the cooking-stove. 



