Nov. 1857. THE SUN'S LAST VISIT. 65 



ance of food for her, and say she will soon re- 

 cover. 



For the few moments of its duration the chase 

 and death was exciting. And how strange and 

 novel the scene ! A misty moon affording but 

 scanty light — dark figures gliding- singly about, 

 not daring to approach each other, for the ice 

 trembled under their feet — the enraged bear, 

 the wolfish howling dogs, and the bright flashes 

 of the deadly rifles. 



Srd. — I remained up the greater part of last 

 night taking observations, for the evening mists 

 had passed away, and a lovely moon reigned 

 over a calm enchanting night ; through a power- 

 ful telescope she resembled a huge frosted-silver 

 melon, the large crater-like depression answer- 

 ing to that part from which the footstalk had 

 been detached. Not a sound to break the still- 

 ness around, excepting when some hungry dog 

 would return to the late battlefield to gnaw into 

 the bloodstained ice. 



On the 1st the sun paid us his last visit for 

 the year, and now we take all our meals by 

 lamplight. 



6th. — In order to vary our monotonous routine, 

 we determined to celebrate the day ; extra grog 

 was issued to the crew, and also for the first time 

 a proportion of preserved plum-pudding. Lady 



