i9"l MULES EXERCISED ON DECK 257 



was picked up and the ship on her course again twelve minutes 

 after the accident. He was quite benumbed with the cold, but 

 was taken down to the engine-room and well dried, given a 

 little brandy to drink, and by the evening was all right again. 



The first berg was passed on Christmas Day in 61 3 i' S., and 

 the first belt of pack on the 26th in 63 59' S. It was not, how- 

 Dec 26 ever, till the following evening that the real pack 



1911,63" was met, and in the dog watches of the 28th it began 

 31'^ S., 173 to get heavy, eventually holding the ship up at i A.M. 

 that night. 



After once getting in the pack until they were landed, the 

 mules were exercised at least twice, generally three times a week. 

 Dec 20 and They were walked round and round the main hatch 

 30, 1911, 66 and nearly all of them used to take the opportunity 

 46' S., 777 to roll, which they greatly appreciated. With the 

 4 numerous ring bolts, combing of the main hatch and 



other obstructions, there was a certain amount of risk; fortu- 

 nately there was no accident and the benefit they derived from 

 being moved about justified the risk being taken. 



The deck was always well covered with ashes, which were 

 kept for the purpose instead of being thrown overboard when 

 sent up from the boiler-room. Two or three of the mules were 

 inclined to jump about a bit; Lai Khan, in particular, enjoying 

 his outings a little too much, but Bruce always took charge of 

 him and managed to keep him well under control. 



Every day after leaving New Zealand the dogs were given 

 a run round the upper deck, and whenever the ship was stopped 

 in the ice they were exercised on a floe, which afforded plenty of 

 excitement to the men as well as to the dogs. 



Being held up in the pack always gives a good opportunity 

 for work of different sorts to be done. Lillie has his plankton 

 nets over, trying different depths; Rennick always sounds; and, 

 if the sun comes out, observations for variation are taken with 

 the landing compass on a floe outside the range of disturbance 

 of the ship's iron ; and, if a floe with ice that has not been splashed 

 with salt water is near enough, the ship is watered, as there is 

 no knowing when the next opportunity may occur to obtain fresh 

 water. 



During the 3Oth the floes were visibly breaking up, and in 

 the morning watch of the 3ist steam was again put on the en- 

 gines and the ship able to make slow but steady progress. 



VL. ii 17 



