19II1 THE PONIES LANDED 63 



The Landing: A Week's Work 



Whilst we were on shore Campbell was taking the first steps 

 towards landing our stores. Two of the motor sledges were soon 

 hoisted out, and Day with others was quickly unpacking them. 

 Our luck stood again. In spite of all the bad weather and the 

 tons of sea water which had washed over them the sledges and 

 all the accessories appeared as fresh and clean as if they had 

 been packed on the previous day — much credit is due to the 

 officers who protected them with tarpaulins and lashings. After 

 the sledges came the turn of the ponies — there was a good deal 

 of difficulty in getting some of them into the horse box, but 

 Oates rose to the occasion and got most in by persuasion, whilst 

 others were simply lifted in by the sailors. Though all are thin 

 and some few looked pulled down I was agreeably surprised at 

 the evident vitality which they still possessed — some were even 

 skittish. I cannot express the relief when the whole seventeen 

 were safely picketed on the floe. From the moment of getting on 

 the snow they seemed to take a new lease of life, and I haven't a 

 doubt they will pick up very rapidly. It really is a triumph to 

 have got them through safely and as well as they are. Poor 

 brutes, how they must have enjoyed their first roll, and how 

 glad they must be to have freedom to scratch themselves ! It is 

 evident all have suffered from skin irritation — one can imagine 

 the horror of suffering from such an ill for weeks without being 

 able to get at the part that itched. I note that now they are 

 picketed together they administer kindly offices to each other; 

 one sees them gnawing away at each other's flanks in most 

 amicable and obliging manner. 



Meares and the dogs were out early, and have been run- 

 ning to and fro most of the day with light loads. The great 

 trouble with them has been due to the fatuous conduct of the 

 penguins. Groups of these haA^e been constantly leaping on to 

 our floe. From the moment of landing on their feet their whole 

 attitude expressed devouring curiosity and a pig-headed disre- 

 gard for their own safety. They waddle forward, poking their 

 heads to and fro in their usually absurd way, in spite of a string 

 of howling dogs straining to get at them. ' Hulloa,' they seem 

 to say, ' here's a game — what do all you ridiculous things want? ' 

 And they come a few steps nearer. The dogs make a rush as 



