I9II] A BLIZZARD iii 



The surface crust which breaks with a snap and sinks with 

 a snap, startling men and animals. 



Custom robs it of dread but not of interest to the dogs, 

 who come to imagine such sounds as the result of some strange 

 freak of hidden creatures. They become all alert and spring 

 from side to side, hoping to catch the creature. The hope clings 

 in spite of continual disappointment.^^ 



A dog must be either eating, asleep, or interested. His 

 eagerness to snatch at interest, to chain his attention to some- 

 thing, is almost pathetic. The monotony of marching kills 

 him. 



This is the fearfullest difficulty for the dog driver on a snow 

 plain without leading marks or objects in sight. The dog is 

 almost human in its demand for living interest, yet fatally less 

 than human in its inability to foresee. 



The dog lives for the day, the hour, even the moment. The 

 human being can live and support discomfort for a future. 



Sunday, February 5. — Corner Camp, No. 6. The blizzard 

 descended on us at about 4 p.m. yesterday; for twenty-four hours 

 It continued with moderate wind, then the wind shifting slightly 

 to the west came with much greater violence. Now it is blowing 

 very hard and our small frail tent is being well tested. One 

 imagines it cannot continue long as at present, but remembers our 

 proximity to Cape Crozier and the length of the blizzards re- 

 corded in that region. As usual we sleep and eat, conversing as 

 cheerfully as may be in the intervals. There is scant news of our 

 small outside world — only a report of comfort and a rumour that 

 Bowers' pony has eaten one of its putties ! ! 



1 1 P.M. — Still blowing hard — a real blizzard now with dusty, 

 floury drift — two minutes in the open makes a white figure. 

 What a wonderful shelter our little tent affords ! We have 

 just had an excellent meal, a quiet pipe, and fireside conversation 

 within, almost forgetful for the time of the howling tempest 

 without; — now, as we lie in our bags warm and comfortable, 

 one can scarcely realise that ' hell ' is on the other side of the 

 thin sheet of canvas that protects us. 



Monday, February 6. — Corner Camp, No. 6. 6 p.m. The 

 wind increased in the night. It has been blowing very hard all 

 day. No fun to be out of the tent — but there are no shirkers 

 with us. Oates has been out regularly to feed the ponies; 



