6 WITH SCOTT: THE SILVER LINING 



not vid King Edward VII. land. The ship will leave in July 

 and make a long trip vid Madeira and Kerguelen to enable 

 the men to shake together." 



Lieutenant Campbell was often in and out of the offices. 

 His was an independent command, and he was collecting his 

 stores and labelling them with a distinctive broad green band. 

 The cases were made of Venesta— a patent three-ply material, 

 extremely light and extraordinarily tough. One could hardly 

 break into them with a pick-axe ! They were bound with 

 iron and made to contain about 40 lbs. weight, to facilitate 

 handling. 



The question of Antarctic clothing greatly interested many 

 ladies of my acquaintance. Some of them, indeed, were so 

 urgent that I should look into this matter, that I began to get 

 ala/med myself. On inquiry 1 found that the fur boots were 

 carefully arranged to go over four pairs of socks and a layer of 

 senna-grass ; which seemed to point to a somewhat wide 

 margin of safety. Of the Antarctic suits — trousers, jerseys, 

 and overalls — I was told there was a supply in two sizes — 

 long and short ! I looked at the scientific director as he 

 smilingly gave me this information, and judged what would 

 fit him would suit me, so that no measurement was necessary 

 in this class of tailoring. 



The first order from Captain Scott concerned the purchase 

 of clothing for the voyage to New Zealand. For this £8 was 

 allowed by the Expedition. I told Captain Scott that I was 

 not making the voyage in the Terra Nova, and had a kit of 

 tropical gear already. He remarked with a twinkle in his eye, 

 " Never mind about that, I dare say you will be able to spend 

 it on something useful ! " 



A few days later I went to the West India Dock and saw 

 the Terra Nova for the first time. Here was Lieutenant 

 Evans " merry and bright " from the start ! He was assisting 

 Captain Scott to chalk out cabin spaces on the deck. In a 

 later section I describe her equipment very fully, so that there 

 is no need to dwell on it here, save that amongst the large 

 liners in the dock she had somewhat the appearance of a 

 minnow among the Tritons. At any rate, the " leviathan " is 

 half as large again as Shackleton's Nimrod, and if Columbus 

 could board her no doubt he would feel himself on a 

 Lusitania. 



