MAKING SLEDGES. 
137 
runner: this will prevent her rocking and pitching 
when crossing hummocked ice, and enable us to cradle 
her firmly to the sledge. 
“They are at this moment breaking out our cabin 
bulkhead to extract the beam. Our cabin-dormitory 
is full of cold vapor. Every thing is comfortless: 
blankets make a sorry substitute for the moss-padded 
wall which protected us from —60°. 
“April 21, Saturday.—Morton’s heel is nearly closed, 
and there is apparently a sound bone underneath. 
He has been upon his back since October. I can 
now set this faithful and valuable man to active duty 
very soon. 
“The beam was too long to be carried through our 
hatches; we therefol’e have sawed it as it stands, 
and will carry up the slabs separately. These slabs 
are but one and a half inches wide, and must be 
strengthened by iron bolts and cross-pieces; still, they 
are all that we have. I made the bolts out of our 
cabin curtain-rods, long disused. Mr. Petersen aids 
Ohlsen in grinding his tools. They will complete the 
job to-morrow,—for we must work on Sunday now,— 
and by Monday be able to begin at other things. 
Petersen undertakes to manufacture our cooking and 
mess-gear. I have a sad-looking assortment of bat¬ 
tered rusty tins to offer him; but with stove-pipe 
much may be done. 
“April 22, Sunday.— Gave rest for all but the 
sawyers, who keep manfully at the beam. Some 
notion of our weakness may be formed from the fact 
