48 THE VOYAGE OF THE 'DISCOVERY' [Dec. 



and with the additional satisfaction of having covered nearly 

 eleven miles, the longest march we have made for a long time. 



'Then we laid ourselves out for supper, reckless of con- 

 sequences, having first had a Christmas wash and brush-up. 

 Redolent of soap, we sat around the cooking-pot, whilst into 

 its boiling contents was poured a double " whack " of every- 

 thing. In the hoosh that followed one could stand one's 

 spoon with ease, and still the Primus hissed on, as once 

 again our cocoa was brought to the boiling-point. Meanwhile 

 I had observed Shackleton ferreting about in his bundle, out 

 of which he presently produced a spare sock, and stowed away 

 in the toe of that sock was a small round object about the size 

 of a cricket ball, which when brought to light, proved to be a 

 noble "plum-pudding." Another dive into his lucky-bag and 

 out came a crumpled piece of artificial holly. Heated in the 

 cocoa, our plum-pudding was soon stearring hot, and stood 

 on the cooker-lid crowned with its decoration. For once we 

 divided food without " shut-eye." 



' I am writing over my second pipe. The sun is still 

 slowly circling our small tent in a cloudless sky, the air is 

 warm and quiet, all is pleasant without, and within we have a 

 sense of comfort we have not known for many a day; we 

 shall sleep well to-night — no dreams, no tightening of the belt. 



' We have been chattering away gaily, and not once has 

 the conversation turned to food. We have been wondering 

 what Christmas is like in England — possibly very damp, 

 gloomy, and unpleasant, we think ; we have been wondering, 

 too, how oar friends picture us. They will guess that we are 

 away on our sledge journey, and will perhaps think of us on 

 plains of snow ; but few, I think, will imagine the truth, that 

 for us this has been the reddest of all red-letter days.' 



