Amador ledger., 1909-11-26

frozen to hardened masses, so much
so that few could rise and stretch,
which is a severe torment to dogs aft
er a storm. We freed their traces,
beat the cemented SHOWS from their
furs with sticks, and their curling tails
and pointed noses told of common graf
itude.
AS we skirmished about for little
stretch ourselves the sun rose over the
northern blue, flashing the newly driv-
en- SHOWS in warm tones. The temper
ature during the storm rose to 20 be-
low. but now the thermometer sank
rapidly below 40. The west was still
smoky. and the weather did not seem
quite settled. 1t was too early to start
so we disrobed again. slipped into the
bags and sought quiet slumber
A few hours later we were rudely
awakened by loud explosive noises.
Looking about. nothing unusual was
detected about the igloo, and a peep
through the eye port gave no cause
for the disturbance. 1t was concluded
that the ice was cracking from the
sudden change of temperature in quite
the usual harmless manner, and we
turned over to prolong the bag COM
forts,
Then there came n series of thun-
dering noises, with which the ice quiv-
cred. Ahwelah arose and said that
the house was breaking. l turned to
rise and sank into newly formed
crevasse. which up to that moment was
bridged by SNOW. A man in n bag is a
helpless creature, and with water be-
low and tumbling blocks of snow from
above pressing one deeper and deeper
the case was far from humorous at
temperature of 4S below.
Still. the boys laughed heartily. Their
hands, however, were quickly occu-
pied. Ahwelah grabbed my bag and
rolled me over on snow of doubtful
security. They then slipped into fuTs
with electric quickness and tossed the
things out on safe ice
In the extreme. cold the water froZe
in sheets about the bag. and when the
ice was beaten off the reindeer skin
was. to my pleasure. found quite dEy
A few moments more of sleep and we
might all have found resting place
In the chilling deep That experience
kept us ever watchful for the dangers
of the spreading ice IN all calms after
storms.
The ice about was much disturbed,
and numerous black lines of water
opened on every side, from which
OoZed jets of frosty steam. The great
difference between the temperature of
the sea and that Of the air made
contrast of 76 degrees. and the open
spots Of ice water appeared to be boil
ing.
Anxious to move along away from
the troubled angle of ice the usual
breakfast was simplified. Melting some
snow, we poured down the icy liquid
as an eye opener and then began at
the half pound Bowlder of pemmican,
but with cold fingers. blue lips and no
possible shelter the stuff was unusual
ly hard.
To warm up the sleds were prepared,
and under the lash the dogs jumped
into harness with bound. The penn
mican, somewhat reduced with the ak,
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 little search
a safe crossing was found over all Of
tho now oroyinac tbor,0t, n etro,, ~ x1,ac+
erly wind carried Il piercing cold
Good progress was made, but we were
not allowed to forget at any time that
we were invading the forbidden do
mains OF polar environment.
The Bitter Cold.
In starting before the end of the
winter night and d,camping on the open
ice fields in the long northward march
we had first accustomed our eyes to
frigid darkness ard then to a perpetu-
al glitter with shvers This proved to
be the coIdest 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 warm
ing spirit Along the land there had
been calms and gales and an inspiring
contrast, even in the dark days and
nights, but here the frigid world was
felt at its worst. The wind which
came persistently from the west-now
ctrono now fpahln but a lvvDvc charm
inflicted a 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 n picturesque mask Of ice about
the face. Every bit of exhaled mois-
t,,,.o nondnnsnd and frnzn nithnr To tho