It had been ascertained by experiment that the water, at a considerable depth, was essentially warmer beneath the ice, than at its surface.  A plan had been devised by which the lower currents of the water could be pumped up for the purposes of the bath; thus rendering the process far more tolerable than it had previously been.  Bathing in extremely cold weather, however, is not as formidable a thing as is generally supposed, the air being at a lower temperature than the water.  As the greatest importance was attached to these daily ablutions, the subject was gone over between the two masters in all its bearings.  There were no conveniences for the operation at the wreck; and this was one reason why Roswell suggested that a residence there ought to be abandoned.  Daggett dissented, and invited his companion to take a walk in his caverns.

A promenade in a succession of caves formed of ice, with the thermometer at zero, would naturally strike one as a somewhat chilling amusement.  Gardiner did not find it so.  He was quite protected from the wind, which gives so much pungency to bitter cold, rendering it insupportable.  Completely protected from this, and warmed by the exertion of clambering among the cakes.  Roswell’s blood was soon in a healthful glow; and, to own the truth, when he left the wreck, it was with a much better opinion of it as a place of residence, than when he had arrived to pay his visit.

As there was now nothing for the men to do in the way of preparation, modes of amusement were devised that might unite activity of body with that of the mind.  The snows ceased to fall as the season advanced; and there were but few places on which heavy burthens might not have been transported over their crusts.  It was, indeed, easier moving about on the surface of the frozen snow, than it had been on the naked rocks:  the latter offering obstacles that no longer showed themselves.  Sliding down the declivities, and even skating, were practised; few northern Americans being ignorant of the latter art.  Various other sources of amusement were resorted to; but it was found, generally, that very little exercise in the open air exhausted the frame, and that a great difficulty of breathing occurred.  Still, it was thought necessary to health that the men should remain as much as possible out of the crowded house; and various projects were adopted to keep up the vital warmth while exposed.  Ere the month of July had passed, which corresponds to our January, it had been found expedient to make dresses of skins; for which fortunately the materials abounded.