Evening journal., 1909-10-01

proved good and the ice, though newly
crevassed, improved as We advanced.
The late start spread our days work
close to the chill of midnight. and be-
fore we were quite ready to camp there
were signs of another gale from tue
west. Little sooty clouds with ragged
edges scurried along at an alarming pace
and beyond a huge smoky bank black
ened the pearIy glitter.
Suitable camping ice was sought and in
the course Of an hour an igloo was built.
The structure was built stronger than
usual Double tiers Of snow blocks were
placed to the windward and a little water
was thrown over the top to cement the
blocks. The dogs were fastened to the
lee of hummocks and the sleds were Sc
curely lashed and fastened to the ice.
We expected hurricane and had not
long TO wait to taste Of its bitters Before
we were at rest in our bags the wind
brushed the SHOWS with a force incon-
lceivable. The air thickencd with rush
ing drift In few moments the dogs
and sleds we're buried under banks If
SNOW and great drifts encircled the igloo.
The cemented blocks Of our dome with
stood the sweep of the blast very well.
but many small holes were borrowed
through the snow wall, permitting some
drift TO enter.
storm Suddenly Drops.
Early in the morning, after rush Of
but few hours, the storm ceased as
suddenly as it came aud left a stiffness
which was appalling. The dogs soon be-
gan to howl desperately, as il attacked by
a bear, and we rushed out, seeking guns.
but there was no approaching creature.
1t was combined signal Of distress.
The storm driven SHOWS had buried and
bound them in unyieldng frost They
had partly uncovered themselves, but by
trace and harness they were frozen TO
hardened masses, so much SO that few
could rise and stretch, which is a severe
torment TO dogs after 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 gratitude
As we skirmished about for little
stretch ourselves the sun rose over the
northern blue, flashing the newly driven
SHOWS in warm tones. The temperature
during the storm rose TO twenty-six be-
low, but now the thermometer sank rapid
ly below forty. The west was still smoky
and the weather did not seem quite SET
tied. 1t was too early TO start, so we dis
robed again, slipped into the bags aud
sought quiet slumber
a few hours later we were rudely
awakened by loud explosive noises. Look
ing about, nothing unusual was detected
about the gloo, and "A peep through the
eye port gave no cause for the disturb
ance. Ii was concluded that the ice was
cracking from the sudden change of tenn
perature in quite the usual harmless man
ner and we turned over to prolong the
bag comforts.
Then there came a series of laundering
voices, with which the ice quivercd
Ahwelah arose and said that tlie house
was breaking. ! turned to rise and sank
into a newly formed crevass, which M
to that moment was bridged by snow
aud a man in bag is q helpless creature
and with water below and tumblinr
blocks of snow from above pressing one
deeper and deeper the case was far from
humorous at a temperature Of forty-eignt
below.
Stn the boys laughed heartily. Their
hands, however, were quickly occupied.
grabbed my bag and rolled me
over on snow Of doubtful security and
they slipped into furs with electric ouick-
ness and tossed the things out on safe ics
In the extreme cold the water froze In
sheets about the bag, and when the ice
was beaten of the reindeer skin was. 20
my pleasure, found quite dry. A few
more OF sleep and We might al
have found a resting place in the Chilling
deep. That experience kept us evec
of the dangers of the spreading
ice in all calms after storms.
End Of seventh Instrument.