184 THE WORLD OF ICE.

had undergone considerable*aiterations. After the re-
turn of Fred Ellice and the hunting-party, whom we
left on the ice-belt in the last chapter, the bulk-head,
or partition, which separated the cabin from the hold
had been taken down, and the whole was thrown into
one large apartment, in order to secure a freer circu-
lation of air and warmth. All round the walls inside
of this apartment moss was piled to the depth of
twelve inches to exclude the cold, and this object was
further gained by the spreading of a layer of moss on
the deck above. The cabin hatchway was closed, and
the only entrance was at the farther end, through the
hold, by means of a small doorway in the bulk-head,
to which was attached a sort of porch, with a curtain
of deer-skins hung in front of it. In the centre of
the floor stood an iron cooking-stove, which served at
once the purpose of preparing food and warming the
cabin, which was lighted by several small oil lamps.
These were kept burning perpetually, for there was
no distinction between day and night in mid-winter,
either in the cabin or out of doors.

In this snug-looking place the officers and men of
the ship messed, and dwelt, and slept together ; but,
notwithstanding the apparent snugness, it was with
the greatest difficulty they could keep themselves in
a sufficient degree of warmth to maintain health and
comfort. Whenever the fire was allowed to get low,
the beams overhead became coated with hoar-frost ;
and even when the temperature was raised to the
utmost possible pitch, it was cold enough, at the ex-