226 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [June 



was obliged to request the omission of compliments at an early 

 stage. Nevertheless it was gratifying to have a really genuine 

 recognition of my attitude towards the scientific workers of the 

 Expedition, and I felt very warmly towards all these kind, good 

 fellows for expressing it. 



If good will and happy fellowship count towards success, 

 very surely shall we deserve to succeed. It was matter for 

 comment, much applauded, that there had not been a single dis- 

 agreement between any two members of our party from the 

 beginning. By the end of dinner a very cheerful spirit prevailed, 

 and the room was cleared for Ponting and his lantern, whilst 

 the gramophone gave forth its most lively airs. 



When the table was upended, its legs removed, and chairs 

 arranged in rows, we had quite a roomy lecture hall. Ponting 

 had cleverly chosen this opportunity to display a series of slides 

 made from his own local negatives. I have never so fully real- 

 ised his work as on seeing these beautiful pictures; they so 

 easily outclass anything qf their kind previously taken in these 

 regions. Our audience cheered vociferously. 



After this show the table was restored for snapdragon, and 

 a brew of milk punch was prepared in which we drank the health 

 of Campbell's party and of our good friends in the Terra Nova. 

 Then the table was again removed and a set of lancers formed. 



By this time the effect of stimulating liquid refreshment on 

 men so long accustomed to a simple life became apparent. Our 

 biologist had retired to bed, the silent Soldier bubbled with 

 humour and insisted on dancing with Anton. Evans, P.O., was 

 imparting confidences in heavy whispers. ' Pat ' Keohane had 

 grown intensely Irish and desirous of political argument, whilst 

 Clissold sat with a constant expansive smile and punctuated the 

 babble of conversation with an occasional ' Whoop ' of delight 

 or disjointed witticism. Other bright-eyed individuals merely 

 reached the capacity to enjoy that which under ordinary circum- 

 stances might have passed without evoking a smile. 



In the midst of the revelry Bowers suddenly appeared, fol- 

 lowed by some satellites bearing an enormous Christmas Tree 

 whose branches bore flaming candles, gaudy crackers, and little 

 presents for all. The presents, I learnt, had been prepared 

 with kindly thought by Miss Souper (Mrs. Wilson's sister) and 

 the tree had been made by Bowers of pieces of stick and string 



