igioj 
THE IMPRISONING ICE 
35 
is it the normal set in the region, or due to the prevalence 
of westerly winds ? Possibly much depends on this as 
concerns our date of release. It is annoying, but one 
must contain one's soul in patience and hope for a 
brighter outlook in a day or two. Meanwhile we shall 
sound, and do as much biological work as is possible. 
The pack is a sunless place as a rule ; this morning we 
had bright sunshine for a few hours, but later the sky 
clouded over from the north again, and now it is snowing 
dismally. It is calm. 
Wednesday, December 14. — Position, N. 2', W. \'. The 
pack still close around. From the masthead one can 
see a few patches of open water in different directions, 
but the main outlook is the same scene of desolate 
hummocky pack. The wind has come from the S.W., 
force 2 ; we have bright sunshine and good sights. The 
ship has swung to the wind and the floes around are 
continually moving. They change their relative positions 
in a slow, furtive, creeping fashion. The temperature 
is 35 0 , the water 29-2° to 29-5°. Under such conditions 
the thin sludgy ice ought to be weakening all the time ; 
a few inches of such stuff should allow us to push 
through anywhere. 
One realises the awful monotony of a long stay in the 
pack, such as Nansen and others experienced. One can 
imagine such days as these lengthening into interminable 
months and years. 
For us there is novelty, and everyone has work to do 
or makes work, so that there is no keen sense of impatience. 
