122 ON THE WAY TO THE SOUTH 



interest. Therefore, when the report went round that 

 ' Camilla " had got four shapely youngsters, there was 

 general rejoicing. Two of the pups, who happened to 

 be of the male sex, were allowed to live; the females 

 were sent out of this world long before their eyes were 

 opened to its joys and sorrows. It might be thought 

 that, seeing we had nearly a hundred grown-up dogs on 

 board, there would be little opportunity for looking after 

 puppies; that this was done, nevertheless, with all the 

 care that could be wished, is due in the first instance to 

 the touching affection of the second in command for the 

 little ones. From the very first moment he was their 

 avowed protector. Gradually, as the numbers increased, 

 there was a difficulty in finding room on the already 

 well-occupied deck. " I'll take them in my bunk," said 

 the second in command. It did not come to that, but 

 if it had been necessary he would certainly have done 

 so. The example was catching. Later on, when the 

 little chaps were weaned, and had begun to take other 

 nourishment, one might see regularly, after every meal, 

 one after another of the crew coming on deck with 

 some carefully scraped-up bits of food on his plate; 

 the little hungry mouths were to have what was left 

 over. 



Something more than patience and punctual per- 

 formance of duty is displayed in such things as those 

 of which I have been speaking; it is love of, and 

 a living interest in, one's work. From what I saw and 



