The sky became black as ink, drift whirled round them in horrid turmoil, and the wild blast came direct from the north, over the frozen sea, shrieking and howling in its strength and fury.
All that night and the next day it continued.

Then it ceased, and for the first time that winter a thaw set in, so that ere morning their sleeping-bags and socks were thoroughly wetted.

This was of short duration, however.

In a few hours the frost set in again as intense as ever, converting all their wet garments and bedding into hard cakes of ice.

To add to their misfortunes their provisions ran out, and they were obliged to abandon the hut and push forward towards the ship with the utmost speed.