THE POLAR SEA 
almost as bad as this ; and I have aknost daily 
during the journey had to repair broken 
sledges, sometimes under fiercer conditions; 
and so I will describe this one job and here- 
after, when writing about repairing a sledge, 
let it go at that. 
Cold and windy. Undo the lashings, un- 
load the load, get out the brace and bit and 
bore new holes, taking plenty of time, for, in 
such cold, there is danger of the steel bit 
breaking. Then, with ungloved hands, thread 
the sealskin thongs through the hole. The 
fingers freeze. Stop work, pull the hand 
through the sleeve, and take your icy fingers 
to your heart; that is, put your hand under 
your armpit, and when you feel it burning you 
know it has thawed out. Then start to work 
again. By this time the party has advanced 
beyond you and, as orders are orders, and you 
have been ordered to take the lead, you have 
to start, catch up, and pass the column before 
you have reached your station. 
Of course, in catching up and overtaking 
the party, you have the advantage of the well- 
marked trail they have made. Once again in 
the lead; and my boy, Ootah, had to up and 
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