Norwich bulletin., 1909-09-30

ing. N''
 Anxious to. move along away iron
 the troubled angle of ice, the usua
 breakfast was simplified. Melting, som,
 snow, we poured down the icy nquid as an eye opener. and then began al the half pound powder of pemmican
 but with cold fingers. blue lips and
 no possible shelter. the stun was un-
 usually hard.
 | To warm up the sleds were prepar- 1 ed. and under the lash the dogs tump-
 ed into harness with a bound. The 1 renmican, somewhat reduced with the
 axe. was ground under the molars as we went along. The teeth were thus
 Kept from chattering and the stomach
 was fired with durable fuel. As we advanced the ice improved to | some extent. and with a little search a
 safe crossing was found over all of the
 new crevices. though strong west wind carried a piercing cold. Good progress was made, but we were not
 allowed to forget any time that we we
 were invading the forbidden domains
 or polar environment.
 The Bitter Cold. In starting before the end of the winter night and camping on the open Ice fields in the long northward march, we had first accustomed our eyes to LAASAd ddIhnccS anu then 10 a per- petual glitter with shivers This prov ed to be the coldest season of the year.
 We should have been hardened to all Kinds of Arctic torment but man only gains that advantage when the pulse ceases to beat.
 Far from land, far from other life. there was nothing to arouse a warm ing spirit. Along the land there had peer caliis and gales and an Inspiring contrast, even in the dark days and nights, but here the frigid world was feii at it's worst. The wind which came persistently from the west-now strong, now feeble, but always sharp inflicted pain to which we never be- came accustomed.
 The kind of torture most felt in this wind and humid air of an Arctic pack was a picturesque mask of ice about the face. Every bid of exhaled mois- tur' condo lsed and froze, either to the taclal hair or to the line of fox tails about the hood. It made a comical caricature of us
 The frequent turns in this course brought both sides to .he wind and ar. ranged line of icicles from every hair offering a convenient nucleus. These lines Of crystal offered a pleas Ing dash of light and color as we look ed at each other. but they did not af- ford much amusement to the individual exhibiting them. Such hair as had not been pulled from the lips and the chm were first weighted and then the wind carried the breath to the long hair with which we protected our heads and left a mass of dangling frost.
 An Icy Coating.
 Accumulated moisture from the eyes coated the eyelashes and brows. The humidity escaping about the forehead leIt crescent of snow above. while that escaping from the chin. combin- ca with falling breath. made semi circle of ice. The most uncomfortable icicles, however, were those that had formed on the toarse hair within the Iiostrils. It is to free the face of this kind of dUrations that the Eslximos pun the facial hair out by the roots, hence the real poverty of mustache and boards.
 During two days of chilly bluster the | sleds were forced laong with encourag- Ing results. and on the evening of | March 26 with a pedometer and other | methods of dead recgoning for posi- | ton we were placed at latitude S4 deg. A min, longitude 96 deg. 53 min. The | western horizon remained persistentlv | 1ndisturbed a brisk storm it seemed. | was gathering, but 1t was along time | H- coming eastward. On the evening | 'A tiC zOlH We. prepared Tor the blast | and built the igloo stronger than usu- ! al, hoping that the horizon would be | cleared by good blow on the morrow | and afford us a day of rest. The long. l steady marches, without time for re- f 'uperation. had begun to check our 
 In the daily monotony of hardship We had learned to appreciate more and | nore the joy of the sleeping bag It vas the only animal comfort which lnorded a relief to our life of frigids md with it we tried to force upon the weary body in the long marches pleasing anticipation.
 The Disrobine.
 In the evening, after the blocks of now walled dome in which We could 'reatne quiet air, the blue flame lamp ang the notes of gastronomical de- ights. heaven given drink of ice water was first indulged in to auench he chronic thirst and then the pro- ess of disrobing began, one at a time or there was not room for all to act t once.
 The ful stuffed boots were pulled nd the bearskin pants were stripped. hen half of the body was quickly ushed into the bag. A brick of penn l1can was next taken out and the ! eeth were set to the grind of this onelike substance. The appetite was lways large. but a half pound of cold 'lthered beef and tallow changes a ungry mans thoughts efectually. The tea, an hour in making was , ow ready, and We rose on elbows to { ake it. Under the influence of the /, arm drink the fur coat with its mask . ice was removed. Next the shirt ' ith its ring of ice -about the waist l omes off, giving the last sense of i livers. Pushing further into the bag. i le hood was pulled over the face and ! e were lost to the world of ice. The warm sense of mental and phy- | cal pleasure which follows is an in f resting study. The movement Of oth- < $. the sting of the air. the noise of 'rturing winds. the blinding rays of a 7atless sun, the pains of driving lows and all the bitter clements were osent. The mind, freed of the agi a tion of frost, wandered to home and T stter times under these peculiar cir fl there comes a pleasing I nse with the touch of ones own C arm skin, while the companionship of n e arms and legs. freed of their cum d 1ii8 lI