40 THE VOYAGE OF THE 'DISCOVERY' 



that were employed were cunningly scarfed to provide the 

 equivalent of a solid block ; and, in addition to the strong 

 fastenings which held piece to piece, long strengthening bolts 

 were used which ran fore and aft and securely held all to- 

 gether. Some of these bolts, running entirely through wood, 

 were as much as 8^ feet in length. 



The bow of the * Discovery ' was, therefore, a part which 

 ran little risk of damage, and a knowledge of its strength was 

 a pleasing possession when we came to ramming the ice-floes. 

 In further preparation for such service the stem itself and the 

 bow for three or four feet on either side were protected with 

 numerous steel plates, so that when we got back to civilisation 

 not a scratch remained to show the many hard knocks which 

 the bow had received. 



The shape of the stem was a very important consideration. 

 It will be seen how largely it overhangs, and this was carried 

 to a greater extent than in any former Polar ship. The object 

 with which this was fitted was often very prettily fulfilled 

 during our voyage. Many a time on charging a large ice-floe 

 the stem of the ship glided upwards until the bows were 

 raised two or three feet, then the weight of the ship acting 

 downwards would crack the floe beneath, the bow would drop, 

 and the ship would gradually forge ahead to meet the next 

 obstruction. This is the principle on which the ice is broken 

 by all modern ice-breakers ; and here, perhaps, I may be 

 allowed to interpolate a remark. I have often been asked 

 why the now well-known ice-breakers are not employed for 

 such expeditions as ours. It is because the ice-breaker is 

 built of steel, and, except when breaking very thin ice, is in 

 constant need of repair ; nothing but a wooden structure has 

 the elasticity and strength to grapple with thick Polar ice 

 without injury. 



The ' Discovery's ' greatest strength lay in her bows, as I 

 have just shown ; next to this, and as far aft as the mainmast, 

 the structure, supported by numerous beams and bulkheads, 

 still remained very strong ; but further aft there was a distinct 

 weakening, for although the sides remained equally thick, the 



