ecided now to effect a few improvements round about our abode, and
all set to work carrying gravel from the beach to put down in front of
the Shack, installing a sink-system to carry any waste water, fixing the
leaking roof and finally closing up the space between the lining and the
wall to keep out the rats.

We expected the 'Rachel Cohen' to leave Hobart with our stores on May 2,
and reckoned that the voyage would occupy two weeks. Thus, it would be
six weeks before she arrived. I was therefore compelled on the 10th to
reduce the sugar allowance to half a pound per week. We were now taking
it in turns to go once a week and get some wekas, and it was always
possible to secure about a dozen, which provided sufficient meat for
three dinners. Breakfast consisted generally of fish, which we caught,
or sea elephant in some form, whilst we had tinned fish for lunch.

Sandell installed a telephone service between the Shack and the wireless
station about the middle of April, the parts all being made by himself;
and it was certainly an ingenious and valuable contrivance. I, in
particular, learned to appreciate the convenience of it as time went
on. The buzzer was fixed on the wall close to the head of my bunk and
I could be called any time during the night from the wireless station,
thus rendering it possible to reply to communications without loss of
time. Further, during the winter nights, when auroral observations had
to be made, I could retire if nothing showed during the early part of
the night, leaving it to Sandell, who worked till 2 or 3 A.M. to call me
if any manifestation occurred.

We had heavy gales from the 12th to the 17th inclusive, the force of the
wind during the period frequently exceeding fifty miles per hour, and,
on the first-mentioned date, the barometer fell to 27.8 inches. The
usual terrific seas accompanied the outburst.

Finding that there were only eight blocks of coal left, I reduced the
weekly allowance to one. We had a good supply of tapioca, but neither
rice nor sago, and as the sealers had some of the latter two, but none
of the former, we made an exchange to the extent of twelve pounds of
tapioca for eight pounds of rice and some sago. Only fifteen pounds of
butter remained on the 20th, and I divided this equally, as it was now
one of the luxuries, and each man could use his own discretion in eating
it. As it was nearing the end of April, and no further word concerning
the movements of the 'R