igii] 
A NEW ALARM CLOCK 
99 
Now the winter cold had set in v/e were obliged to rig 
our second stove in the hut, finding it impossible to keep 
the temperature of the hut above - 25"^ F. 
On June i we had a twenty-four hours' blizzard, but 
I am thankful to say the sea ice held, except off the north 
shore, where it was driven out for about 100 yards along 
the beach. 
June II. — We have had a week of the most glorious 
calm and clear weather, the temperature to-day being 
-25^ F. 
We have been out to most of the neighbouring bergs, 
and one in Robertson Bay has the most wonderful caves. 
Levick got some very good photographs of these with 
flashlight. Unfortunately Priestley, who was working the 
flash, got his face badly burnt. 
We have felt the want of an alarm clock, as in such a 
small party it seems undesirable that anyone should have 
to remain awake the whole night to take the 2-4 a.m. 
observations, but Browning has come to the rescue wath 
a wonderful contrivance. It consists of a bamboo spring 
held back by a piece of cotton rove through a candle 
which is marked oft' in hourSc The other end of the cotton 
is attached to the trigger of the gramophone, and whoever 
takes the midnight observations winds the gramophone, 
^ sets ' the cotton, lights the candle, and turns the trumpet 
towards Priestley, who has to turn out for the 2 a.m., and 
then turns in himself. At ten minutes to two the candle 
burns the thread and releases the bamboo spring, which 
being attached to the trigger starts the gramophone in the 
sleeper's ear, and he turns out and stops the tune. This 
H 2 
