midnight
Hobson distributed lime lozenges and lime juice to every one as a precaution against the scorbutic affections , which damp cold produces . No symptoms of scurvy had fortunately as yet appeared amongst the occupants of the fort , thanks to the sanitary precautions taken . The winter solstice was now approaching , when the darkness of the Polar night would be most profound , as the sun would be at the lowest maximum point below the horizon of the northern hemisphere . At midnight the southern edges of the long white plains were touched with a faint glimmer of twilight , that was all , and it would be impossible to imagine anything more melancholy than the gloomy stillness and darkness of the vast expanse . Hobson felt more secure from the attacks of wild beasts , now that the approaches to the enceinte had been cleared of snow , which was a fortunate circumstance , as ominous growlings were heard , the nature of which no one could mistake . There was no fear of visits from Indian hunters or Canadians at this time of year , but an incident occurred proving that these districts were not altogether depopulated even in the winter , and which was quite an episode in the long dreary dark months . Some human beings still lingered on the coast hunting morses and camping under the snow .