er bodies in the vicinity and indicated the
probability of mineral wealth beneath the continental ice-cap.

CHAPTER VII THE BLIZZARD

The equinox arrived, and the only indication of settled weather was a
more marked regularity in the winds. Nothing like it had been reported
from any part of the world. Any trace of elation we may have felt at
this meteorological discovery could not compensate for the ever-present
discomforts of life. Day after day the wind fluctuated between a gale
and a hurricane. Overcast skies of heavy nimbus cloud were the rule and
the air was continually charged with drifting snow.

Lulls of a singular nature occasionally relieved the monotony. During
these visitations the sequence of events could almost be predicted;
indeed, they would often occur at the same time on several succeeding
days.

On March 19 the first well-marked lull intervened at the height of a
gale. On that day the wind, which had been blowing with great force
during the morning, commenced to subside rapidly just after noon.
Towards evening, the air about the Hut was quite still except for gusts
from the north and rather frequent "whirlies."

This was the name adopted for whirlwinds of a few yards to a hundred
yards or more in diameter which came to be regarded as peculiar to the
country. Similar disturbances have been observed in every part of the
world, but seldom possessed of the same violence and regularity as is
the case in Adelie Land.

The whirlies tracked about in a most irregular manner and woe betide any
light object which came in their path. The velocity of the wind in the
rotating column being very great, a corresponding lifting power was
imparted to it. As an illustration of this force, it may be mentioned
that the lid of the air-tractor case had been left lying on the snow
near the Hut. It weighed more than three hundredweights, yet it was
whisked into the air one morning and dropped fifty yards away in a
north-easterly direction. An hour afterwards it was picked up again and
returned near its original position, this time striking the rocks with
such force that part of it was shivered to pieces. Webb and Stillwell
watched the last proceeding at a respectful distance.

Again, the radius of activity of these whirlies was strictly limited;
objects directly in their path only being disturbed. For instance,
Laseron one day was skinning at one end of a seal and remained in
perfect calm, while McLean, at the ot