as the
year went by, and at times it was quite pathetic to see his attempts at
friendliness.

We became very fond of the dogs despite their habit of howling at night
and their wolfish ferocity. They always gave one a welcome, in drift or
sunshine, and though ruled by the law of force, they had a few domestic
traits to make them civilized.

May was a dreaded month because it had been the period of worst wind and
drift during 1912. On this occasion the wind velocities over four
weeks were not so high and constant, though the snowfall was just as
persistent. On the 17th and 18th, however, there was an unexpected
"jump" to the nineties. The average over the first twenty-four hours
was eighty-three, and on the 18th it attained 93.7 miles per hour. One
terrific rise between 6.30 and 7.30 on the night of the 17th was shown
as one hundred and three miles on the anemometer--the record up to that
time.

Madigan was thrown over and had a hard fall on his arm, smashing a
bottle of the special ink which was used for the anemograph pen. Bage
related how he had sailed across the Magnetic Flat by sitting down
and raising his arms in the air. He was accompanied by Fix, Peary and
George, who were blown along the slippery surface for yards. McLean had
a "lively time" cutting ice and bringing in the big blocks. Often he
would slide away with a large piece, and "pull up" on a snow patch
twenty yards to leeward.

On the 22nd there were hours of gusts which came down like thunderbolts,
making us apprehensive for the safety of the wireless masts; we had
grown to trust the stability of the Hut. Every one who went outside came
back with a few experiences. Jeffryes was roughly handled through not
wearing crampons, and several cases of kerosene, firmly stacked on the
break-wind, were dislodged and thrown several yards.

Empire Day was celebrated in Adelie Land with a small display. At 2.30
P.M. the Union Jack was hoisted to the topmast and three cheers were
given for the King. The wind blew at fifty miles an hour with light
drift, temperature -3 degrees F. Empire greetings were sent to the
Colonial Secretary, London, and to Mr Fisher, Prime Minister of
Australia. These were warmly reciprocated a few days afterwards.

Preceded by a day of whirlies on the 7th and random gusts on the same
evening, the wind made a determined attack next morning and carried away
the top and part of the middle section of the main wireless mast. It
was a very un