noon on the 3rd of February
The bear seemed to recognise her , at least so she thought , and doubtless satisfied with his inspection , he gave a hearty growl , and turning away left the enceinte , as Hobson had prophesied , as he entered it . This was the bear 's first and last visit to the fort , and on his departure everything went on as quietly as before . The little boy 's recovery progressed favourably , and at the end of the month he was as rosy and as bright as ever . At noon on the 3rd of February , the northern horizon was touched with a faint glimmer of light which did not fade away for an hour , and the yellow disc of the sun appeared for an instant for the first time since the commencement of the long Polar night . CHAPTER XV . THE LAST EXPLORING EXPEDITION . From this date , February 3rd , the sun rose each day higher above the horizon , the nights were , however , still very long , and , as is often the case in February , the cold increased , the thermometer marking only 1º Fahrenheit , the lowest temperature experienced throughout this extraordinary winter .