art of the 27th had almost fallen to a calm. This
brought the optimists to the fore, once again, with the theory that the
worst was over. The prediction was far from being fulfilled, for, as the
days passed, the average velocity steadily rose. On May 11 the average
for the twenty-four hours was eighty miles per hour. By that time the
Hut had been further protected by a crescent of cases, erected behind
the first break-wind. In height this erection stood above the Hangar,
and, when the snow became piled in a solid ramp on the leeward side, it
was more compact than ever. Inside the Hut extra struts were introduced,
stiffening the principal rafters on the southern side. It was reassuring
to know that these precautions had been taken, for, on May 15, the wind
blew at an average velocity of ninety miles per hour throughout the
whole twenty-four hours.

Having failed to demolish us by dogged persistence, the hurricane tried
new tactics on the evening of May 24, in the form of a terrific series
of Herculean gusts. As we learned afterwards, the momentary velocity of
these doubtless approached two hundred miles per hour. At 11.30 P.M. the
situation was cheerfully discussed, though every one was tuned up to a
nervous pitch as the Hut creaked and shuddered under successive blows.
It seemed very doubtful whether the roof would resist the gusts, and the
feasibility of the meat cellar as a last haven of refuge was discussed.
After the passage of each gust, the barometer dropped, rising again
immediately afterwards. Similar pulsations of the barometer were
observed many times later in the year. The maximum sudden movement noted
was one-fifth inch. Had the interior of the Hut been more freely in
communication with the outside air, instead of resembling a hermetically
sealed box, the "kicks" would undoubtedly have been much greater.

Cyclonic gusts were repeated a few days after, when the upper tiers of
boxes composing the break-wind were thrown down and pebbles from the
moraine were hurled on the roof. The average velocity of the wind for
each of the three autumn months was as follows: March, 49 miles per
hour; April, 51.5 miles per hour, and May 60.7 miles per hour.

On May 1 the temperatures became lower, so that it was difficult to
move about in the gales without the face getting frost-bitten. Our usual
remedy when this occurred was to hold a mitt over the part affected;
thus sheltered, its circulation of blood was soon re-establis