Page:Scott's Last Expedition, Volume 2.djvu/165

Now the winter cold had set in we were obliged to rig our second stove in the hut, finding it impossible to keep the temperature of the hut above −25° F.

On June 1 we had a twenty-four hours' blizzard, but I am thankful to say the sea ice held, except off the north shore, where it was driven out for about 100 yards along the beach.

June 11.—We have had a week of the most glorious calm and clear weather, the temperature to-day being −25° F.

We have been out to most of the neighbouring bergs, and one in Robertson Bay has the most wonderful caves. Levick got some very good photographs of these with flashlight. Unfortunately Priestley, who was working the flash, got his face badly burnt.

We have felt the want of an alarm clock, as in such a small party it seems undesirable that anyone should have to remain awake the whole night to take the 2–4 a.m. observations, but Browning has come to the rescue with a wonderful contrivance. It consists of a bamboo spring held back by a piece of cotton rove through a candle which is marked off in hours. The other end of the cotton is attached to the trigger of the gramophone, and whoever takes the midnight observations winds the gramophone, "sets" the cotton, lights the candle, and turns the trumpet towards Priestley, who has to turn out for the 2 a.m., and then turns in himself. At ten minutes to two the candle burns the thread and releases the bamboo spring, which being attached to the trigger starts the gramophone in the sleeper's ear, and he turns out and stops the tune. This