SECOND AUTUMN IN THE ICE S43 



day with a load of 250 pounds. It went along easily, and 

 yet was hard to draw, because the snow-shoes were apt to 

 slip to the side on the sort of surface we had. I almost 

 believe that Indian snow-shoes would be better on this 

 ground, where there are so many knobs and smooth 

 hillocks to draw the sledges over. When Amundsen first 

 began to pull the sledge he thought it was nothing at 

 all; but when he had gone on for a time he fell into a 

 fit of deep and evidently sad thought, and went silently 

 home. When he got on board he confided to the others 

 that if a man had to draw a load like that he might just 

 as well lie down at once — it would come to the same 

 thing in the end. That is how practice is apt to go. In 

 the afternoon I yoked three dogs to the same little 

 sledge with the 250-pound load, and they drew it along 

 as if it were nothinc^ at all. 



" Tuesday October 2d. Beautiful weather, but coldish; 

 49° Fahr. of frost ( — 27° C.) during the night, which is a 

 good deal for October, surely. It will be a cold winter 

 if it goes on at the same rate. But what do we care 

 whether there are 90° of frost or 1 20° ? A good snow- 

 shoeing excursion to-day. They are all becoming most 

 expert now ; but darkness will be on us presently, and 

 then there will be no more of it. It is a pity ; this exer- 

 cise is so good for us — we must think of something to 

 take its place. 



" I have a feeling now as if this were to be my last 

 winter on board. Will it really come to my going off 



