CHAPTER III 
On May 3rd to the 5th we had an exceptionally strong 
blizzard wind. In the evening the gusts recorded by the 
anemometer were between 70 and 88 miles an hour, a 
strength considerably over that of any previous observa- 
tion. The ice was again blown from the North Bay. 
During the whole of the night the force of the gale increased, 
and toward morning it began to take off. When Gran 
checked the instrument at 8.30 a.m. it registered for 
3 minutes the rate of 104 miles an hour, and by this time 
its force had abated considerably. It was exceedingly 
difficult at this time of the year to obtain any seals owing 
to the lack of ice in the South and North Bays. 
Simpson had some hyacinth bulbs sent down to him, 
and under Hooper's care these, embedded in a basin full 
of white sawdust, burst into bloom and lasted for some 
considerable time. 
It was strange at this time of the year to see the open 
water right up to the hut. The sky effects were beautiful 
towards the north at midday, and on a calm day their 
reflection from the open water was splendid. 
Demetri and Keohane busied themselves in building 
a dog hospital. This was essential, as several of the dogs 
