26 THE VOYAGE OF THE 'DISCOVERY' [Nov. 



better than others ; " Boss " can be hissed out with very teUing 

 effect, whereas it is hard to make " Brownie " very emphatic. 

 On the opposite side of the leading sledge was Wilson, pulling 

 away in grim silence. We dare not talk on such occasions — 

 the dogs detect the change of tone at once ; they seize upon 

 the least excuse to stop pulling. There are six or eight 

 animals who give little trouble, and these have been placed in 

 the front, so that the others may be more immediately under 

 the lash ; but the loafers are growing rather than diminishing 

 in numbers. This, then, is the manner in which we have 

 proceeded for nine hours to-day — entreaties in front and 

 threats behind — and so we went on yesterday, and so we shall 

 go on to-morrow. It is sickening work, but it is the only way ; 

 we cannot stop, we cannot go back, we must go on, and there 

 is no alternative but to harden our hearts and drive. Luckily, 

 the turn for doing the actual driving only comes once in three 

 days, but even thus it is almost as bad to witness the driving 

 as to have to do it. 



'To-night we discussed the possibility of getting some 

 benefit by marching at night ; it was very warm to-day in the 

 sun, and the air temperature was up to +25''.' 



On the days which followed we gradually made our starting- 

 hour later until we dropped into a regular night-marching 

 routine; we then used to breakfast between 4 and 5 p.m., start 

 marching at 6 p.m., and come to camp somewhere about three 

 or four in the morning. Thus while the sun was at its greatest 

 altitude we were taking our rest, and during the chiller night 

 hours we marched. There were some advantages in this 

 arrangement which scarcely need notice, but it was curious 

 that with it we never quite got rid of the idea that there was 

 something amiss, and it will be seen that it was likely to lead 

 to confusion as to the date of any particular occurrence. 

 Other drawbacks were that we were often obliged to march 

 with the sun in our faces at midnight, and that sometimes the 

 tent was unpleasantly warm during the hours of sleep. 



^November 29. — Shortly after four o'clock to-day we 

 observed the most striking atmospheric phenomenon we have 



