Page:Scott's Last Expedition, Volume 2.djvu/227

April 13–17.—Strong westerly wind, bitterly cold.

April 20.—The same wind continues, but slightly warmer. A large piece had calved off the Drygalski ice tongue. I think this northern face must be altering very fast, as its appearance does not tally with the last survey.

April 23.—Another calm day. Browning and Dickason saw two seals on floes, but were unable to reach them. The sea is still open. On calm days a thin film of ice forms, but disappears as soon as the wind gets up. The current also plays an important part, I am sure, as in Arrival Bay, where there is no current, the ice has formed, and is several feet thick, although the winds are just as strong.

April 24, 25, 26.—Blowing a hard blizzard. On the 25th Dickason dropped 'Y' deck watch and broke the glass, but 'R' and 'C' are going strong, and with sticking-plaster and 'new skin' we have mended Y's glass. We are very snug in our den, and hardly hear the wind.

From April 27 to May 5 the weather prevented much outside work and we spent most of our time in our bags, or working at the improvement of the long tunnel which led to our home. We are roofing this with sealskins on a framework of bamboos, trusting to the drift to increase the thickness of the roof and so insulate us more thoroughly against the cold. We have also dug out one or two alcoves in which to keep meat, blubber, and miscellaneous stores.

We lost the sun to-day and shall not get him back till August 12.