splay at the
Magnetograph House. The framework, which had already been erected once,
to be demolished by the wind, was now strongly rebuilt and was ready for
the outside covering of boards.

From the night of our return to March 8 there was a high wind
accompanied by much drift; for some hours it continued at eighty miles
per hour, the mean temperature being about 15 degrees F., with a minimum
of 5 degrees F.

Up to this date the dogs had been kept on the chain, on account of their
depredations amongst the seals and penguins. The severe weather now made
it necessary to release them. Thenceforth, their abode for part of the
day was inside the veranda, where a section was barricaded-off for
their exclusive use. Outside in heavy drift their habit was to take up
a position in the lee of some large object, such as the Hut. In such a
position they were soon completely buried and oblivious to the outside
elements. Thus one would sometimes tread on a dog, hidden beneath the
snow; and the dog often showed less surprise than the offending man.
What the dogs detested most of all during the blizzard-spells was the
drift-snow filling their eyes until they were forced to stop and brush
it away frantically with their paws. Other inconveniences were the icy
casing which formed from the thawing snow on their thick coats, and
the fact that when they lay in one position, especially on ice, for any
length of time they become frozen down, and only freed themselves at
the expense of tufts of hair. In high winds, accompanied by a low
temperature, they were certainly very miserable, unless in some kind of
shelter.

Several families were born at this time, but although we did everything
possible for them they all perished, except one; the offspring of
Gadget. This puppy was called "Blizzard." It was housed for a while in
the veranda and, later on, in the Hangar. Needless to say, Blizzard was
a great favourite and much in demand as a pet.

On the night of March 7, Caruso, who had been in poor condition for some
time, was found to have a gaping wound around the neck. It was a clean
cut, an inch deep and almost a foot in length. The cause was never
satisfactorily explained, though a piece of strong string embedded in
the wound evidently made the incision. Caruso was brought inside, and,
whilst Whetter administered chloroform, McLean sewed up the wound. After
careful attention for some days, it healed fairly well, but as the dog's
general heal