SLEDGING 
so we are going to turn in. The other igloo is 
waiting for him and the storm keeps up. 
February 19, 1909: It was six a. m. when 
I routed out the boys for breakfast. I am 
writing while the tea is brewing. Had a 
good sleep last night when I did get to sleep. 
Snoring, talk about snoring! Sleeping with 
Esquimos on either side, who have already 
fallen asleep, is impossible. The only way to 
get asleep is to wake them up, get them good 
and wide-awake, inquire solicitously as to their 
comfort, and before they can get to sleep fall 
asleep yourself. After that, their rhythmic 
snores will only tend to soothe and rest you. 
Worked all day soldering the tins of alcohol, 
and a very trying job it was. I converted the 
oil-stove into an alcohol-burner, and used it 
to heat the irons. It took some time for me 
to gauge properly the height above the blue 
flame of the alcohol at which I would get the 
best results in heating the irons, but at last we 
found it. A cradle-shaped support made 
from biscuit-can wire was hung over the flame 
about an inch above it, and while the boys 
heated the irons, I squatted on my knees with 
a case of alcohol across my lap and got to work. 
56 
