Nov. 1857. THE DOGS INVADE US. 61 



winter clothing before tlie recent cold weather 

 set in — they were all allowed on board, and 

 given a good extra meal. Since then we can 

 scarcely keep them out. One calm night they 

 made a charge, and boarded the ship so sud- 

 denly that several of the men rushed up, very 

 scantily clothed, to see what was the matter. 

 Vigorous measures were adopted to expel the 

 intruders, and there was desperate chasing round 

 the deck with broomsticks, &c. Many of them 

 retreated into holes and corners, and two hours 

 elapsed before they were all driven out; but 

 though the chase was hot, it was cold enough 

 work for the half-clad men. 



Sailors use quaint expressions. The nightly 

 foraging expeditions are called " sorties ;" they 

 point out to me the various corners between 

 decks where the " ice corrodes," i.e. the moisture 

 condenses and forms frost; a ramble over the 

 ice is called " a bit of a peruse." I presume 

 this indignity is oifered to the word perambu- 

 lation. 



There was a very sudden call " to arms" to- 

 night. Whether sleeping, prosing, or schooling, 

 every one flew out upon the ice on the instant, 

 as if the magazine or the boiler was on the point 

 of explosion. The alarm of " A bear close-to, 

 fighting with the dogs," was the cause. The 



