Page 359

359

to handle a gun. The sick no longer react
but still hold their own. This is a grave
crisis in our affairs. God grant that
I may keep upon my legs - a little longer -
To night I have a fever, very slight however,
such as I can readily conceal.

Wednes
Mar. 28

I hope my own bad symptoms
may be due to a cold or to overwork, for
Bonsall must lay up tomorrow and the
out door duties will fall entirely upon me.

The sick although no longer
actively improving, hold their own. Not one
is as yet able to leave his bed save for a
crawl out to sun at the main hatch but
should Hans arrive I am certain that
McGeary Brooks & Ohlsen would soon so
full up with fresh walrus as to remove
this cruel crisis. If I could see the
daily wheels move on without me I might
take at once to bed and treatment as a
means of restoring myself to useful
duty. As it is I am obliged to hold
on hoping against hope that Hans has
resisted the vilain and will momentarily
return.

Thurs.
Mar. 29

No Hans. Obliged to detain poor
Petersen to cut wood therefore - no [bids?] -
Morton worse and Goodfellow the same.
Riley and McGeary I look to with hope.

Commenced cutting sail of brig.
Nearly all our bulk head [wood?] gone, only
retain enough to defend us from the cold.
Have had a hard day's work.
Night gorgeous moon in her third quarter
Stars of [Is?] Mag. visible to S.W. Therm -46°.
Glad of the cold for it will render more
certain the approaching [change?]