14 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [December 



in which the ponies are stabled leaked badly, and the dirt of the 

 stable leaked through on hammocks and bedding. Not a word 

 has been said; the men living in that part have done their best 

 to fend off the nuisance with oilskins and canvas, but without 

 sign of complaint. Indeed the discomfort throughout the mess 

 deck has been extreme. Everything has been thrown about, water 

 has found its way down in a dozen places. There is no daylight, 

 and air can come only through the small fore hatch; the artificial 

 lamplight has given much trouble. The men have been wetted 

 to the skin repeatedly on deck, and have no chance of drying their 

 clothing. All things considered, their cheerful fortitude is little 

 short of wonderful. 



First Ice. There was a report of ice at dinner to-night. 

 Evans corroborated Cheetham's statement that there was a berg 

 far away to the west, showing now and again as the sun burst 

 through the clouds. 



Thursday, December 8. 63 20'. 177 22'. S. 31 E. 

 138'; to Circle 191'. The wind increased in the first watch last 

 night to a moderate gale. The ship close hauled held within two 

 points of her course. Topgallant sails and mainsail were furled, 

 and later in the night the wind gradually crept ahead. At 6 a.m. 

 we were obliged to furl everything, and throughout the day we 

 have been plunging against a stiff breeze and moderate sea. This 

 afternoon by keeping a little to eastward of the course, we have 

 managed to get fore and aft sail filled. The barometer has con- 

 tinued its steady upward path for twenty-four hours; it shows 

 signs of turning, having reached within %oth of 30 inches. It 

 was light throughout last night (always a cheerful condition), 

 but this head wind is trying to the patience, more especially as 

 our coal expenditure is more than I estimated. We manage 62 

 or 63 revolutions on about 9 tons, but have to distil every three 

 days at expense of half a ton, and then there is a weekly half ton 

 for the cook. It is certainly a case of fighting one's way South. 



I was much disturbed last night by the motion; the ship 

 was pitching and twisting with short sharp movements on a con- 

 fused sea, and with every plunge my thoughts flew to our poor 

 ponies. This afternoon they are fairly well, but one knows that 

 they must be getting weaker as time goes on, and one longs to 

 give them a good sound rest with the ship on an even keel. Poor 

 patient beasts ! One wonders how far the memory of such fear- 



