9"1 MIDWINTER DAY DINNER 225 



the large table, which itself was laid with glass and a plentiful 

 supply of champagne bottles instead of the customary mugs and 

 enamel lime juice jugs. At seven o'clock we sat down to an 

 extravagant bill of fare as compared with our usual simple diet. 



Beginning on seal soup, by common consent the best decoction 

 that our cook produces, we went on to roast beef with Yorkshire 

 pudding, fried potatoes and Brussels sprouts. Then followed 

 a flaming plum-pudding and excellent mince pies, and thereafter 

 a dainty savoury of anchovy and cod's roe. A wondrous at- 

 tractive meal even in so far as judged by our simple lights, but 

 with its garnishments a positive feast, for withal the table was 

 strewn with dishes of burnt almonds, crystallised fruits, choco- 

 lates and such toothsome kickshaws, whilst the unstinted supply 

 of champagne which accompanied the courses was succeeded 

 by a noble array of liqueur bottles from which choice could be 

 made in the drinking of toasts. 



I screwed myself up to a little speech which drew attention 

 to the nature of the celebration as a half-way mark not only 

 in our winter but in the plans of the Expedition as originally 

 published. (I fear there are some who don't realise how 

 rapidly time passes and who have barely begun work which by 

 this time ought to be in full swing. ) 



We had come through a summer season and half a winter, 

 and had before us half a winter and a second summer. We 

 ought to know how we stood in every respect; we did know 

 how we stood in regard to stores and transport, and I especially 

 thanked the officer in charge of stores and the custodians of the 

 animals. I said that as regards the future, chance must play a 

 part, but that experience showed me that it would have been 

 impossible to have chosen people more fitted to support me 

 in the enterprise to the South than those who were to start in 

 that direction in the spring. I thanked them all for having put 

 their shoulders to the wheel and given me this confidence. 



We drank to the Success of the Expedition. 



Then everyone was called on to speak, starting on my left 

 and working round the table; the result was very characteristic 

 of the various individuals one seemed to know so well the style 

 of utterance to which each would commit himself. 



Needless to say, all were entirely modest and brief; unex- 

 pectedly, all had exceedingly kind things to say of me in fact I 



VOL. I IS 



