nd enjoyed life.

By the evening of January 24 the floor and outside walls were finished,
and the roof-frame was in position. Work on the roof was the coldest
job of all, for now there was rarely an hour free from a cold breeze, at
times reaching the velocity of a gale. This came directly down from the
plateau, and to sit with exposed fingers handling hammer and nails was
not an enviable job. To add to our troubles, the boards were all badly
warped from being continually wet with sea-water on the voyage. However,
by judicious "gadgetting," as the phrase went, they were got into place.

[TEXT ILLUSTRATION]

Sections across the hut, Adelie Land

The windward roof was up on January 25, and several of us camped in
sleeping-bags under its shelter. Already Hannam had unpacked the large
range and put the parts together in the kitchen. Henceforth the cooking
operations were simplified, for previously a sledging-cooker had been
used.

Mention of the stove recalls a very cold episode. It happened that while
our goods were being lifted from the boats to the landing-stage, a case
had fallen into the harbour. When the parts of the stove were being
assembled, several important items were found to be missing, and it was
thought that they might compose the contents of the unknown case lying
in the kelp at the bottom of the bay.

Laseron and I went on board the whale-boat one day at low water, and
located the box with a pole, but though we used several devices with
hooks, we were unable to get hold of it. At last I went in, and,
standing on tip-toe, could just reach it and keep my head above
water. It took some time to extricate from the kelp, following which I
established a new record for myself in dressing. The case turned out to
be full of jam, and we had to make a new search for the missing parts.
I do not think I looked very exhilarated after that bath, but strange to
say, a few days later Correll tried an early morning swim which was the
last voluntary dip attempted by any one.

The enthusiasm of the builders rose to its highest pitch as the roof
neared completion, and we came in sight of a firm and solid habitation,
secure from the winds which harassed us daily. A dozen hammers worked at
once, each concentrated upon a specific job. The ardour with which those
engaged upon the ceiling inside the hut plied their nails resulted in
several minor casualties to those sitting on the roof, deeply intent
on the outer lining. A c