noon
`` No window . '' It was a dark and evil-appearing thing , that hut , not fit for aught better than swine in a civilized land ; but for us , who had known the misery of the open boat , it was a snug little habitation . Following the housewarming , which was accomplished by means of seal-oil and a wick made from cotton calking , came the hunting for our winter 's meat and the building of the second hut . It was a simple affair , now , to go forth in the morning and return by noon with a boatload of seals . And then , while I worked at building the hut , Maud tried out the oil from the blubber and kept a slow fire under the frames of meat . I had heard of jerking beef on the plains , and our seal-meat , cut in thin strips and hung in the smoke , cured excellently . The second hut was easier to erect , for I built it against the first , and only three walls were required .