300 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [October 



arrived with Nobby and a tale of events not complete. He said 

 that after the loads were removed Bowers had been holding the 

 three ponies, who appeared to be quiet; suddenly one had tossed 

 his head and all three had stampeded — Snatcher making for 

 home, Nobby for the Western Mountains, Victor, with Bowers 

 still hanging to him, in an indefinite direction. Running for two 

 miles, he eventually rounded up Nobby west of Tent Island 

 and brought him in.-*^ Half an hour after Wilson's return. 

 Bowers came in with Victor distressed, bleeding at the nose, 

 from which a considerable fragment hung semi-detached. Bowers 

 himself was covered with blood and supplied the missing link 

 — the cause of the incident. It appears that the ponies were 

 fairly quiet when Victor tossed his head and caught his nostril 

 in the trace hook on the hame of Snatcher's harness. The hook 

 tore skin and flesh and of course the animal got out of hand. 

 Bowers hung to him, but couldn't possibly keep hold of the 

 other two as well. Victor had bled a good deal, and the blood 

 congealing on the detached skin not only gave the wound a 

 dismal appearance but greatly increased its irritation. I don't 

 know how Bowers managed to hang on to the frightened animal; 

 I don't believe anyone else would have done so. On the way 

 back the dangling weight on the poor creature's nose would get 

 on the swing and make him increasingly restive; it was neces- 

 sary to stop him repeatedly. Since his return the piece of skin 

 has been snipped off and proves the wound not so serious as it 

 looked. The animal is still trembling, but quite on his feed, 

 which is a good sign. I don't know why our Sundays should 

 always bring these excitements. 



Two lessons arise. Firstly, however quiet the animals ap- 

 pear, they must not be left by their drivers; no chance must be 

 taken; secondly, the hooks on the hames of the harness must 

 be altered in shape. 



I suppose such incidents as this were to be expected, one 

 cannot have ponies very fresh and vigorous and expect them 

 to behave like lambs, but I shall be glad when we are off and 

 can know more definitely what resources we can count on. 



Another trying incident has occurred. We have avoided 

 football this season especially to keep clear of accidents, but 

 on Friday afternoon a match was got up for the cinematograph 

 and Debenham developed a football knee (an old hurt, I have 



