82 THE VOYAGE OF THE 'DISCOVERY' [Dec. 



which meant a good deal of labour, but ensured our being able 

 to take advantage of every corner of the hold-space. As soon 

 as it could conveniently be done, the ' Discovery ' was docked 

 and every effort was made to stop the leak. This, as I have 

 pointed out, was a difficult matter owing to the several layers 

 of planking. A thorough examination of the ship's bottom 

 revealed not a few defects which should have been remedied 

 before the ship was launched, but though these defects were 

 made good and the bottom was thoroughly caulked, we found, 

 when the ship was again afloat, that the leak was not stopped. 

 The chagrin of our excellent contractor, Mr. H. J. Miller, was 

 as deep as our own, and for his own satisfaction he begged 

 that the ship might be docked again at his expense : this time 

 he removed all the heavy steel plates that protected the bow of 

 the ship, hoping that the fault might be found beneath them ; 

 but though more defects were made good and every inch of 

 the bottom was examined, we had the intense annoyance of 

 seeing the water again entering when the ship was once more 

 afloat. Every effort had been made, we could do no more ; 

 and the result served to show the extreme difficulty of localis- 

 ing such a fault in a ship of this kind. Amongst the many 

 skilled workmen whose united labour had produced the solid 

 structure of the ' Discovery's ' hull, had been one who had 

 scamped his task, no doubt knowing full well that he was free 

 from all chance of detection, and for this we were condemned to 

 suffer throughout our voyage. The leak never grew serious, and 

 when we were in the ice it was very much reduced ; but, as I have 

 said, first and last we spent on the pumps many a weary hour 

 that could ill be spared with so much other work to be done. 



As the month of December advanced the ' Discovery ' 

 became a very busy scene; parties of men were employed in 

 stowing every hole and corner of the available storage-space, 

 the upper deck was littered with packing cases of all sorts, 

 whilst many truck-loads of stores still stood waiting on the 

 wharf. As usual in such cases, the prospect of getting 

 everything stowed seemed hopeless. Meanwhile, whenever 

 permitted, flocks of curious visitors added to the confusion; 



