own course.  More than once it cost us a wet shirt to convince them that we really were the masters.  It was strenuous work, but it succeeded in the end.  Poor dogs! they got plenty of thrashing in those days.  Our hours were long; we seldom turned in before eleven at night, and were up again at five.  But it did not seem particularly hard; we were all alike eager for the work to be finished as soon as possible, so that the Fram might get away.  The harbour arrangements were not of the best.  The quay she was moored to suddenly broke in pieces, and all hands had to turn out to make her fast to a new quay.  Perhaps they had just got to sleep again when the same operation had to be repeated; for the ice broke time after time, and kept the unfortunate “sea-rovers” in constant activity.  It is enervating work being always at one’s post, and sleeping with one eye open.  They had a hard time to contend with, our ten comrades, and the calm way in which they took everything was extraordinary.  They were always in a good humour, and always had a joke ready.  It was the duty of the sea party to bring up all the provisions and outfit for the wintering party from the hold, and put them on the ice.  Then the land party removed them.  This work proceeded very smoothly, and it was rare that one party had to wait for the other.  During the first few days of sledging all the members of the land party became quite hoarse, some of them so badly that they almost lost their voices.  This came from the continual yelling and shouting that we had to do at first to make the dogs go.  But this gave the sea party a welcome opportunity of finding us a nickname; we were called “the chatterers.”

Apart from the unpleasantness of constantly changing the anchorage, on account of the breaking up and drifting out of the ice, the harbour must in other respects be regarded as very good.  A little swell might set in from time to time and cause some disagreeable bumping, but never anything to embarrass the vessel.  One very great advantage was that the currents in this corner always set outward, and thus kept off all icebergs.  The sledging between the ship and the Barrier was done by five men to begin with, as the carpenters were engaged in building the house.  One man had also to be told off as tent guard, for we could not use more than half our teams —­ six dogs —­ at a time.  If we harnessed the full team of twelve, we only had trouble and fights.  The dogs which were thus left behind had to be looked after, and a man was required for this duty.  Another of the duties of the tent guard was to cook the day’s food and keep the tent tidy.  It was a coveted position, and lots were cast for it.  It gave a little variety in the continual sledging.