72 Master Minds of Modern Science 



return with Professor David, while Mawson remained at 

 winter quarters to assist with the scientific objects of the 

 expedition during the absence of the ship. 



The voyage began on New Year's Day 1908, a day of 

 blue skies and summer heat. Tugs crowded with well- 

 wishers kept the Nimrod company as she crept out of Christ- 

 church, New Zealand, and turned her nose to the south. 



It was a happy send-off, but within a few hours of 

 sailing the ship was wallowing in heavy seas, and had 

 developed a corkscrew roll which proved too much for 

 the scientists on board. Nearly all were violently sea- 

 sick, and unable to leave their bunks. 



Conditions were cheerless enough. The sleeping quar- 

 ters were in a part of the hold which a few months before 

 had been filled with blubber and seal-skins caught off 

 Newfoundland. The aroma of fishy fat still permeated 

 the atmosphere. There was no ventilation and only one 

 small lantern. As the storm outside increased the seas 

 swept the decks and found the weak points, soon pene- 

 trating to the sufferers below. If they left their soaking 

 bunks, there was nowhere else to go. The ward-room 

 was awash, the decks unsafe, the tiny vessel loaded to 

 the last inch with stores and equipment. As one who was 

 on board told the authors, a geologist was seen washing 

 about in the scuppers, quite indifferent as to whether the 

 next wave carried him overboard or not. 



These were only the mild beginnings of the discomforts 

 endured by these men, unused to sea-life, for the bad 

 weather lasted ten days. The tremendous seas carried 

 away the forward bulwarks at both sides, and even a 

 part of the bridge rails. The pumps were at work con- 

 tinually, but despite strenuous efforts, in which the 

 scientists joined, the water at one time rose so high that 

 it flooded the stokehold and threatened to put out the 

 boiler fires. 



Life became a matter of changing wet clothes for 



