The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-11-04

DR. COOK oK BOARD THE HANS EGEDE broke the frigid silence with an occa. sional outburst A little fresh enthust asm from the drivers was quickly fol lowed by canine activity.
 Weswere in good trim to cover dis tance economically. The sledges wer. light; our bodies were thin. All the muscles had shriveled, but the dogs retained much of their strength. Thus stripped for the last lap, one horizon after another was lifted
 In the forced effort which followed we were frequently overloaded. The temperature was steady at A degrees below zero r., but precipitation came with ease and a certain amount of pleasure. Later. however, there fol lowed a train of suffering for many days. The delight of the birdskin shirt was changed for the chill of the wet blanket The mittens, the boots and the fur stockings became quite useless until dried out.
 Furs Soon Dried.
 Fortunately, at this time the sun was warm enough to dry the furs in about three days if dashed to the sun ny side of the sled. In these last days we felt more keenly the bangs of per spiration than in all our earlier ad- ventures.
 The amber colored goggles were per sistently used. and they afforded a protection to the eyes which was quite a revelation, but in spite of every pre- caution our distorted, frozen, burned and withered faces lined a map of the hardships en route.
 We were curious looking savages. The perpetual glitter induced a squint which distorted the face in a remark able manner The strong light reflect ed from the crystal surface threw the muscles about the eye into state of chronic contraction. The pupil was reduced to a mere pinhole.
 There was no end of trouble at hand in endeavoring to keep the windows of the soul open. and all of the effect was run together in set expression of hardship and wrinkles which should be called the boreal squint.
 Nearing the Pole.
 This boreal squint is a part of the russet bronze physiognomy which falls to the lot of every arctic explorer. The early winds, with a piercing tempera- ture, start flush of scarlet. while frequent frostbites leave figures in black. Later the burning sun browns the skin: subsequently strong winds sop the moisture. harden the skin and leave open Assures.
 The hard work and reduced nourish ment contract the muscles. dispel the fat and leave the skin to shrivel up in folds. The imprint of the goggles, the set expression of hard lines and the mental blank of the environment have removed all spiritual animation. We have the color and the lines of old russet apples and would easily pass for prehistoric progenitors of man.
 In the enforced effort to spread out the stiffened legs over the last reaches there was no longer sufficient energy at camping times to erect snow shel- ter. The silk tent was then pressed into use.
 Though the temperature was still very low when the sun was high, its congenial rays pierced the silk fabric and rested softly on our brows closed in heavy slumber. In strong windy it was still necessary to erect a shelter ing wall to shield the tent.
 Optical Illusions.
 Signs of land were still seen every day, but they were deceptive optical il- Iusions and a mere verdict of fancy. It seemed that something must hap pen. some line must cross our horizon. 10 mark the important area into which we were pressing.
 When the sun was low the eye ran over moving plains in brilliant waves of color to dancing horizons. The mi rages turned things topsy turvy. In- verted lands and queer objects ever rose and fell in shrouds of mystery, but all of this was due to the atmos- pheric magic of the midnight sun.