1904] THE OPEN WATER 



235 



vision for the commissariat. We know there will be number- 

 less seals and penguins, and we have brought plenty of butter 

 to cook our unsuspecting victims ; and then also we have jam 

 and all sorts of unheard-of sledging luxuries. Personally I 

 want to watch the ice-edge and see what chance there is of a 

 break-up ; Wilson wants to study the life in that region. There 

 has also been a talk of trying to get some way up Erebus, but 

 this means hard work, for which at present we are neither of us 

 inclined. 



' To-night we are camped near some rocks half way towards 

 the ice-edge ; there are several seals close by, and small bands 

 of Ad^lie penguins are constantly passing us. It is curious 

 there should be so many, as we know of no rookery near, and 

 it is still more curious why they should be making south, as 

 there is no open water beyond the few cracks near the land. 

 It gives us the idea that they don't quite know what they are 

 doing, especially since we watched the movements of one 

 small band ; they were travelling towards the south with every 

 appearance of being in a desperate hurry — flippers outspread, 

 heads bent forward, and little feet going for all they were 

 worth. Their business-like air was intensely ludicrous ; one 

 could imagine them saying in the fussiest manner, " Can't stop 

 to talk now, much too busy," and so we watched them until 

 their plump little bodies were mere specks, when suddenly, for 

 no rhyme or reason, they turned round and came hurrying 

 back just as fussy and busy as ever. I can't tell whether they 

 saw us, but to our surprise they showed no curiosity. When 

 they were about twenty yards beyond us again, three of them 

 suddenly plumped down on their breasts, drew their heads 

 close in, shut their eyes, and apparently went fast asleep. It 

 was the queerest performance ; one can imagine that in an 

 hour or two they will be up and off again without even giving 

 themselves time for a shake.' 



^January 4. — We pursued our leisurely way, skirting the 

 land towards the ice-edge this morning. When within half a 

 mile of the open water Wilson suddenly said, " There they 

 are." I looked round, and, lo and behold ! on the dark bare 



