THE TERRA NOVA GOES SOUTH 99 



on in two-foot breadths. On the outside this was covered 

 with weather-boarding, and on the inside by another layer of 

 matchboard. The floor was made of thicker boards separated 

 by ruberoid, while the roof has an inner matchboard ceiling — 

 an air-space (with joists, etc.), matchboard, two layers of sea- 

 weed quilt, matchboard, and two layers of ruberoid. Thus 

 every portion of the hut has many layers, each of which is 

 fairly wind-tight. The door opens into an air-tight porch, 

 and this is protected from the south-east blizzards by a wind- 

 screen. A large ventilator on the roof ridge is the only legi- 

 timate air-gap, but in one corner the meteorologist has a sort 

 of external cupboard for his instruments, which is bound to 

 be cool. Everything went along swimmingly. The official 

 carpenter and two of the petty officers carved out the more 

 intricate details of carpentering, while the afterguard soon 

 became moderately expert at nailing matchboard, chiefly with 

 geological hammers. One of the scientists (subjected to 

 criticism) complained that he never could drive a nail straight 

 while any one was watching him. His tormentor declared 

 that he must have afforded amusement the whole day, and 

 pointed to a complete series of wilted nails due to the tyro's 

 efforts. For the roof-work the spiked boots of the geologists 

 were in great request, for it was possible for us to manoeuvre 

 over the sloping boards at much greater speed than could 

 " Chips " and his assistants. 



On Sunday (the 8th) occurred an unfortunate accident, 

 almost the sole mishap since the loss of the ponies in the 

 gale. We swung out the third motor-car, having freed it 

 from its case while it was inboard. 



It was landed on the sea-ice safely, and run smartly away 

 to a firmer surface fifty yards away. I then left the ship with 

 a one-man sledge-load bound for the hut. Captain Scott and 

 Lieutenant Campbell were testing the ice, and warned me to 

 be especially careful of certain wet patches near them. I got 

 through to the shore without incident, but this unhappily was 

 not the case with the motor-sledge, which started off imme- 

 diately afterwards. I was not present, but heard that it was 

 pulled across on to apparently firm ice near the doubtful 

 portion, which had just been crossed safely. There one of 

 the men went through, but was hauled out safely. He declared 

 he felt himself being pulled under the floe by the strong tidal 



