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 133 THE FUR COUNTRY. every one suffered. To relieve it, different liquids had to be melted at the fire, for it would have been dangerous to eat ice. Another effect of the cold was intense drowsiness, which HobsoVi earnestly entreated his companions to resist. Some appeared unable to do so j but Mrs Barnett was invaluable in setting an example of constant activity : always brave, she kept herself awake, and encouraged others by her kindness, brightness, and sympathy. Sometimes she read aloud accounts of travels, or sang some old familiar English song, in the chorus of which all joined. These joyous strains roused up the sleepers whether they would or no, and their voices soon swelled the chorus. The long days of imprisonment passed wearily by, and the Lieutenant, consulting the outside thermometer through the win- dows, announced that the cold was still on the increase. On the 31st December, the mercury was all frozen hard in the cistern of ihe instrument, so that the temperature was 44° below freezing- point. The next day, 1st January 1860, Lieutenant Hobson wished Mrs Barnett a happy new year, and complimented her on the courage and good temper with which she endured the miseries of this northern winter. The astronomer was not forgotten in the universal interchange of good wishes amongst the members of the little colony ; but his only thought on entering another year was, that it was the beginning of that in which the great eclipse was to take place. Fortunately the general health still remained good, and any symptoms jof scurvy were prom^.tly checked by the use of lime-juice and iime-lozenges. It would not do, however, to rejoice too soon. The winter had still to last three months. The sun would doubtless reappeat above the horizon in due time ; but there was n:- reason to think that the cold had reached its maximum intensity, especially as in most northern countries February is the month during which the tem- perature fails lowest. However that might be, there was no decrease in the severity .f the weather during the first days of the new year, and on the 8th January the alcohol thermometer placed outside the window of the passage marked ^^° below zero. K few degrees more and the minimum temperature at Fort Reliance in 1835 would be reached ! Jaspar Hobson grew more and more uneasy at the continued severity )f the cold. He began to fear that the furred animals would have to seek a less rigorous climate further south^ which