i66 THE VOYAGE OF THE 'DISCOVERY' [Feb. 



' Later the wind increased to force 8, and we had a scare 

 with a mass of ice bearing straight into the bay. At the last 

 moment it diverted its course and passed harmlessly round 

 the point. . . .' From such extracts as the above it will be 

 seen that it is no easy matter to secure a peaceful anchorage 

 on the Antarctic coastline. 



^February 20. — We have had the first continuous bright 

 windless day since we arrived. The glass was steady at 29.4, 

 the sun shone brightly, and although the temperature did not 

 rise above 18° it was pleasant to loll about in the sun during 

 the dinner hour, when we smoked our pipes in great comfort, 

 sitting on pieces of the hut which are not yet fixed. The dogs 

 are now allowed to run loose, so many at a time ; there is 

 much less fighting than would be expected. They are losing 

 their coats, I suppose at about the time they would shed them 

 in the north in preparation for summer, but it seems an 

 awkward look-out when they ought to be preparing for winter. 

 We took advantage of the fine evening to re-secure the ship. 

 I let go two anchors in the bay and middled, then veered both 

 cables till we could just bring her stern up to the ice-foot for 

 landing our gear. She ought to lie much more comfortably 

 now.' On the 21st our energetic first lieutenant, Royds, 

 had a very narrow shave. Late at night, when everyone 

 else was below, he jumped on to a grating which had been 

 placed over the side and carelessly secured ; the lashing 

 slipped, and the next moment he was in the water with 

 nothing to hold on by or to assist him in climbing out ; with 

 the water at 29° and the air at zero he realised that there was 

 no time to be wasted if he was to reach the deck again safe 

 and sound, and that the chance of his being heard was so 

 small, he would only be wasting his breath by attempting to 

 shout. In this serious position he luckily remembered that a 

 rope ladder had been left over the stern, and husbanding his 

 strength he swam for it. It could have been no light matter 

 climbing that ladder under such freezing conditions, but 

 fortunately he managed to do it, and to swing himself over the 

 side. The first we knew of the accident was when he 



