The sun sank out of sight behind the southern hills on the 15th of October, not to be seen again for four long months. The circumstance furnished the subject of our conversation in the evening, and I could easily read on the faces of my companions that their thoughts followed him as he wandered south; and a shade of sadness fell for a moment over the table about which we were grouped. We had all been so intent upon our cares and duties, during the past five weeks, that we had scarcely noticed the decline of day. It had vanished slowly and as if by stealth; and the gloom of night following its lengthening shadow made us feel now, for the first time, how truly alone we were in the Arctic desert. [Illustration] CHAPTER IX. SUNSET.--WINTER WORK.--MY DOG-TEAMS.--"MY BROTHER JOHN'S GLACIER."--HUNTING.--PEAT BEDS.--ESQUIMAU GRAVES.--PUTREFACTION AT LOW TEMPERATURES.--SONNTAG CLIMBS THE GLACIER.--HANS AND PETER.--MY ESQUIMAU PEOPLE.--THE ESQUIMAU DOG.--SURVEYING THE GLACIER.--THE SAILING-MASTER.--HIS BIRTHDAY DINNER. My diary thus records the advent of winter:-- October 16th. The fair-haired god of light reposes beneath the Southern Cross. His pathway is no longer above the silent hills; but his golden locks stream over the mountains, and day lingers as a lover departing from the abode of his mistress. The cold-faced regent of the darkness treads her majestic circle through the solemn night; and the soft-eyed stars pale at her approach. Her silver tresses sweep the sea, and the wild waves are stilled like a laughing face touched by the hand of death. Although winter and darkness are slowly settling over us, yet we have still nine hours of twilight daily, wherein to perform our out-door duties. I have completed my arrangements for the health and comfort of my little household, and have perfected my system of domestic discipline and economy, and I feel sure that the wheels of the little world which revolves around this ice-locked schooner will now move on smoothly. This done, I am at liberty to seek greater freedom of action than I have hitherto enjoyed. I have desired to make some short journeys of exploration while the scrap of twilight yet remains to me, and as soon as the men were free I set them to work preparing some conveniences for camping out. I have been ready for several days, but the weather has been unfavorable for any thing more than a few hours' absence; and so our life runs on smoothly into the night. [Sidenote: MY DOG-TEAMS.]