i8o SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [May 



after twelve hours' calm it would be in any case. The dark 

 appearance of the ice is noticeable, but this has been the case of 

 late since the light is poor; little snow has fallen or drifted and 

 the ice flowers are very sparse and scattered. 



We had an excellent game of football again to-day — the 

 exercise is delightful and we get very warm. Atkinson is by 

 far the best player, but Hooper, P.O. Evans, and Crean are also 

 quite good. It has been calm all day again. 



Went over the sea ice beyond the Arch berg; the ice half 

 a mile beyond is only 4 inches. I think this must have been 

 formed since the blow of yesterday, that is, in sixteen hours or 

 less. 



Such rapid freezing is a hopeful sign, but the prompt dissi- 

 pation of the floe under a southerly wind is distinctly the reverse. 



I am anxious to get our people back from Hut Point, mainly 

 on account of the two ponies; with so much calm weather there 

 should have been no difficulty for the party in keeping up its 

 supply of blubber; an absence of which is the only circumstance 

 likely to discomfort it. 



The new ice over which I walked is extraordinarily slippery 

 and free from efflorescence. I think this must be a further sign 

 of rapid formation. 



Friday, May 5. — Another calm day following a quiet night. 

 Once or twice in the night a light northerly wind, soon dying 

 away. The temperature down to - 12°. What is the meaning 

 of this comparative warmth? As usual in calms the Wind Vane 

 Hill temperature is 3° or 4° higher. It is delightful to con- 

 template the amount of work which is being done at the station. 

 No one is idle — all hands are full, and one cannot doubt that 

 the labour will be productive of remarkable result. 



I do not think there can be any life quite so demonstrative 

 of character as that which we had on these expeditions. One 

 sees a remarkable reassortment of values. Under ordinary con- 

 ditions it is so easy to carry a point with a little bounce; self- 

 assertion is a mask which covers many a weakness. As a rule 

 we have neither the time nor the desire to look beneath it, and 

 so it is that commonly we accept people on their own valuation. 

 Here the outward show is nothing, it is the inward purpose that 

 counts. So the ' gods ' dwindle and the humble supplant them. 

 Pretence is useless. 



