And with this the most important part of the autumn’s work came to an end.  The foundation was solidly laid; now we had only to raise the edifice.  Let us briefly sum up the work accomplished between January 14 and April 11:  The complete erection of the station, with accommodation for nine men for several years; provision of fresh meat for nine men and a hundred and fifteen dogs for half a year —­ the weight of the seals killed amounted to about 60 tons; and, finally, the distribution of 3 tons of supplies in the depots in latitudes 80deg., 81deg., and 82deg.S.  The depot in 80deg.S. contained seal meat, dogs’ pemmican, biscuits, butter, milk-powder, chocolate, matches, and paraffin, besides a quantity of outfit.  The total weight of this depot was 4,200 pounds.  In 81deg.S., 1/2 ton of dogs’ pemmican.  In 82deg.S., pemmican, both for men and dogs, biscuits, milk-powder, chocolate, and paraffin, besides a quantity of outfit.  The weight of this depot amounted to 1,366 pounds.

CHAPTER VII

Preparing for Winter

Winter!  I believe most people look upon winter as a time of storms, cold, and discomfort.  They look forward to it with sadness, and bow before the inevitable —­ Providence ordains it so.  The prospect of a ball or two cheers them up a little, and makes the horizon somewhat brighter; but, all the same —­ darkness and cold —­ ugh, no! let us have summer, they say.  What my comrades thought about the winter that was approaching I cannot say; for my part, I looked forward to it with pleasure.  When I stood out there on the snow hill, and saw the light shining out of the kitchen window, there came over me an indescribable feeling of comfort and well-being.  And the blacker and more stormy the winter night might be, the greater would be this feeling of well-being inside our snug little house.  I see the reader’s questioning look, and know what he will say:  “But weren’t you awfully afraid the Barrier would break off, and float you out to sea?” I will answer this question as frankly as possible.  With one exception, we were all at this time of the opinion that the part of the Barrier on which the hut stood rested on land, so that any fear of a sea voyage was quite superfluous.  As to the one who thought we were afloat, I think I can say very definitely that he was not afraid.  I believe, as a matter of fact, that he gradually came round to the same view as the rest of us.

If a general is to win a battle, he must always be prepared.  If his opponent makes a move, he must see that he is able to make a counter-move; everything must be planned in advance, and nothing unforeseen.  We were in the same position; we had to consider beforehand what the future might bring, and make our arrangements accordingly while there was time.  When the sun had left us, and the dark period had set in, it would be too late.  What first of all claimed our attention and set our collective brain-machinery to work was