48 WITH SCOTT: THE SILVER LINING 



(with an honoured member's name inserted in the song) are 

 always encored. Then, since it is Saturday night, " Sweet- 

 hearts and Wives " is drunk in something stronger than the 

 juice of the lime by about half the party. (I imagine this 

 toast does not appeal to the other moiety.) 



After dinner some dozen adjourn to the nursery for a con- 

 cert. An upper bunk forms the dress circle, the washstand is the 

 royal box, and the others crowd round the pianist. We have 

 two flautists, two banjoists, and an expert on the mandolin, but 

 are badly off for pianists. However, two of us can strum a 

 little and are practising to eke out the performance. At any 

 rate, there's no need for the piano except the final chord of the 

 bar, for the goodwill if not the execution of the other per- 

 formers is so great that the piano is lost. After an hour of 

 " Scottish Student," the party disperse somewhat, except an 

 enthusiast who plays favourite music on the pianola. Certainly 

 ours is a quick-change programme ; from " The Tarpaulin 

 Jacket," rather badly strummed, to " Lohengrin," as played in 

 grand opera ! 



By ten or eleven all but the watch have turned in, and we 

 are one day nearer the Pole. 



The 6th and 7th were days of dull weather, with some rain, 

 and a wind veering to south-west, but we made good progress 

 under steam, with just sufficient sail to keep her steady. As 

 a matter of fact, in ordinary weather, she is a very steady ship, 

 and anticipations of five weeks' mal-de-mer have in my case 

 not been realized in the slightest. All but one unfortunate 

 turned out throughout the gale — an heroic effort in the case of 

 two of the after-guard, who had no interest in the dinner-bell 

 for over a week. 



Indoor work perforce occupied us, except when the setting 

 of sails required volunteers at the ropes. I hesitate to describe 

 this operation, for up to the present I have not been able to 

 distinguish the " main weather braces " from the " fore 

 to'gallant lee shrouds." However, I am busy learning them 

 and the words of some of the chanties. 



One of the most popular describes the adventures of a 

 mythical hero, " Ranzo," who "was no sailor" at the be- 

 ginning of the epic, but being taught navigation by an un- 

 usually affable captain, ends up by realizing that proud position 

 himself! The chorus, "Ranzo, boys, Ranzo," is easily 



