i9"] VARIOUS INVALIDS 293 



robbed us before, spent a night in pain, and died in the morning. 

 Wilson thinks the cause is a worm which gets into the blood and 

 thence to the brain. It is trying, but I am past despondency. 

 Things must take their course. 



Forde's fingers improve, but not very rapidly; it is hard 

 to have two sick men after all the care which has been taken. 



The weather is very poor I had hoped for better things 

 this month. So far we have had more days with wind and drift 

 than without. It interferes badly with the ponies' exercise. 



Friday, October 13. The past three days have seen a 

 marked improvement in both our invalids. Clissold's inside 

 has been got into working order after a good deal of difficulty; 

 he improves rapidly in spirits as well as towards immunity 

 from pain. The fiction of his preparation to join the motor 

 sledge party is still kept up, but Atkinson says there is not the 

 smallest chance of his being ready. I shall have to be satisfied 

 if he practically recovers by the time we leave with the ponies. 



Forde's hand took a turn for the better two days ago and 

 he maintains this progress. Atkinson thinks he will be ready 

 to start in ten days' time, but the hand must be carefully nursed 

 till the weather becomes really summery. 



The weather has continued bad till to-day, which has been 

 perfectly beautiful. A fine warm sun all day so warm that one 

 could sit about outside in the afternoon, and photographic work 

 was a real pleasure. 



The ponies have been behaving well, with exceptions. Victor 

 is now quite easy to manage, thanks to Bowers' patience. China- 

 man goes along very steadily and is not going to be the crock 

 we expected. He has a slow pace which may be troublesome, 

 but when the weather is fine that won't matter if he can get 

 along steadily. 



The most troublesome animal is Christopher. He is only 

 a source of amusement as long as there is no accident, but I am 

 always a little anxious that he will kick or bite someone. The 

 curious thing is that he is quiet enough to handle for walking or 

 riding exercise or in the stable, but as soon as a sledge comes into 

 the programme he is seized with a very demon of viciousness, 

 and bites and kicks with every intent to do injury. It seems to 

 be getting harder rather than easier to get him into the traces; 

 the last two turns, he has had to be thrown, as he is unmanage- 



