216 Tuesday December 8, 1914. Family cloudy, calm - 4°. I hibernated at 6:00 AM today and did not wake up until Tank arrived about 2:30 P.M. He brought the news that Mrs. has decided to celebrate Christmas on the 21st and really seems to be going to get away as soon as the snow arrives about the 23rd. Tank will get a team at Hermine's traveling with Ethel above on the way south. I did not walk today but went around on the north side of the Island and tried to build a small snow igloo. I worked nearly three hours but finally became thoroughly disgusted with my efforts. I intend to start again in a new place and profit by the mistakes I realized today. I shall probably never be able to make a good igloo unless we stay another year but it would be very convenient to be able to put up some kind of shelter if I were ever caught in a storm away from the Esquimaux. The move is going fast - In a day or two we shall be in the darkest part of the Arctic winter. When these next two weeks shall have gone we shall be on the home stretch towards light and spring and summer - And - The ships - Time is flying; we can scarcely believe it, but somehow the days and weeks get away. I can write shorthand now, which is something as a souvenir of the Joy Forever.