I9I0] LOSS OF TWO PONIES ii 



astrous results, it is wonderful to realise the change which has 

 been wrought in our outlook in twenty-four hours. The others 

 have confessed the gravely serious view of our position which 

 they shared with me yesterday, and now we are all hopeful 

 again. 



As far as one can gather, besides the damage to the bulwarks 

 of the ship, we have lost two ponies, one dog, ' lo tons of coal,' 

 65 gallons of petrol, and a case of the biologists' spirit — a serious 

 loss enough, but much less than I expected. ' All things con- 

 sidered we have come off lightly, but it was bad luck to strike a 

 gale at such a time.' The third pony which was down in a sling 

 for some time in the gale is again on his feet. He looks a little 

 groggy, but may pull through if we don't have another gale. 

 Osman, our best sledge dog, was very bad this morning, but has 

 been lying warmly in hay all day, and is now much better. ' Sev- 

 eral more were in a very bad way and needed nursing back to 

 life.' The sea and wind seem to be increasing again, and there 

 is a heavy southerly swell, but the glass is high ; we ought not to 

 have another gale till it falls."* 



Monday, December 5. — Lat. ^6° 40'. — The barometer has 

 been alm.ost steady since Saturday, the wind rising and falling 

 slightly, but steady in direction from the west. From a point off 

 course we have crept up to the course itself. Everything looks 

 prosperous except the ponies. Up to this morning, in spite of 

 favourable wind and sea, the ship has been pitching heavily to a 

 south-westerly swell. This has tried the animals badly, espe- 

 cially those under the forecastle. We had thought the ponies on 

 the port side to be pretty safe, but two' of them seem to me to be 

 groggy, and I doubt if they could stand more heavy weather 

 without a spell of rest. I pray there may be no more gales. We 

 should be nearing the limits of the westerlies, but one cannot be 

 sure for at least two days. There is still a swell from the S.W., 

 though it is not nearly so heavy as yesterday, but I devoutly wish 

 it would vanish altogether. So much depends on fine weather. 

 December ought to be a fine month in the Ross Sea ; it always 

 has been, and just now conditions point to fine weather. Well, 

 we must be prepared for anything, but I'm anxious, anxious about 

 these animals of ours. 



The dogs have quite recovered since the fine weather — they 

 are quite in good form again. 



