no THE VOYAGE OF THE 'DISCOVERY' [Jan. 



As so often in the Antarctic Regions, we resolved to turn 

 night into day, and, although it was lo p.m., to start about our 

 work at once. Our work was not a pleasant task, but one we 

 regarded as very necessary — namely, that of adding to our 

 larder sundry joints of seal. We felt fairly confident of finding 

 a wintering spot before the season closed, but we had no 

 guarantee that we should find seals in its vicinity, and it 

 seemed the wisest plan to get them whilst we could. 



The seal possesses the most astonishing vitality, and 

 though nothing can be easier than to catch and wound these 

 poor creatures, it is difficult to kill them outright, and until 

 our men had had practice and knew exactly where to strike, 

 many a futile knife-thrust was given. 



It seemed a terrible desecration to come to this quiet spot 

 only to murder its innocent inhabitants and stain the white 

 snow with blood ; but necessities are often hideous, and man 

 must live. Some of us were glad enough to get away on our 

 ski and to climb the steep snow slopes at the end of our creek. 

 We found that the surface of this ' barrier ' mass undulated in 

 long waves, some of which we crossed ; but knowing we had 

 no prospect of reaching the land, we soon turned and employed 

 ourselves in sliding down the steep slopes of the inlet on our 

 ski, an amusement which cost us many falls. 



Leaving the men to get in the seal carcases and some ice 

 for our boilers, I turned in at two to get a few hours' rest 

 before we again put to sea. On returning to the deck at 7.30 

 I was told that all work was completed, but that some five 

 hours before a party consisting of Dr. Wilson, Mr. Ferrar, 

 Cross and Weller had got adrift on a floe, and that no one had 

 thought of picking them up. Although the sun had been 

 shining brightly all night, the temperature had been down to 

 18°, and afar off I could see four disconsolate figures tramping 

 about to keep themselves warm on a detached floe not more 

 than fifteen yards across. When at length our wanderers 

 scrambled over the side, it was very evident they had a big 

 grievance, and it was only after some hot cocoa that they could 

 talk of their experiences with ease. They had been obliged to 



