source of
comfort. Of course, a certain degree of cold must exist wherever snow is
to be found; but, unless in absolute contact with the human body, it does
not usually affect the system beyond a certain point. On the other hand,
it often breaks the wind, and it has been known to form a covering to
flocks, houses, &c., that has contributed essentially to their warmth. We
incline to the opinion that if one slept in a cavern formed in the snow,
provided he could keep himself dry, and did not come in absolute contact
with the element, he would not find his quarters very uncomfortable, so
long as he had sufficient clothing to confine the animal warmth near his
person. Now, our sealers enjoyed some such advantage as this; though not
literally in the same degree. Their house was not covered with snow,
though a vast bank was already formed quite near it and a good deal had
begun to pile against the tent. Singular as it may seem, on the east end
of the building, and on the south front, which looked in towards the cliff
next the cove, there was scarcely any snow at all. This was in part owing
to the constant use of the shovel and broom, but more so to the currents
of air, which usually carried everything of so light a nature as a flake
to more quiet spots, before it was suffered to settle on the ground.

Roswell early found, what his experience as an American might have taught
him, that the _melting_ of the snow, in consequence of the warmth of the
fires, caused much more inconvenience than the snow itself. The latter,
when dry, was easily got along with; but, when melted in the day, and
converted into icicles at night, it became a most unpleasant and not
altogether a safe neighbour; inasmuch as there was really danger from the
sort of damp atmosphere it produced.

The greatest ground of Roswell Gardiner's apprehensions, however, was for
the supply of fuel. Much of that brought from home had been fairly used in
the camboose, and in the stove originally set up in the hut. Large as that
stock had been, a very sensible inroad had been made upon it; and,
according to a calculation he had made, the wood regularly laid in would
not hold out much more than half the time that it would be indispensable
to remain on the island. This was a grave circumstance, and one that
demanded very serious consideration. Without fuel it would be impossible
to survive; no hardening process being sufficient to fortify the human
frame to a degree that wou