ioo WITH SCOTT: THE SILVER LINING 



current. Almost the next moment one corner of the motor- 

 sledge sank, and then gradually the end, and finally the whole 

 of the machine crashed through the ice ; and despite the 

 utmost efforts of the hauling party it sank in a hundred 

 fathoms. Thus was lost nearly a thousand pounds' worth of 

 valuable machinery, and since it is made largely of aluminium, 

 it corrodes extremely rapidly, and would not be worth salvage, 

 even if it were possible — now the ice is out — to grapple it at 

 that depth. 



During the building of the hut meals were eaten in a huge 

 brown tent alongside, and many of the afterguard slept in 

 small tents on the shore. A new type of these latter looks 

 exactly like a rounded sun-helmet lying on the ground. The 

 rim is represented by the broad flap, which will be covered 

 with snow on sledging journeys, though now a handful of 

 gravel is sufficient to keep them secure. 



One evening I strolled into the skuary just behind the 

 camp. Here are hummocks of kenyte with little lakes and 

 shelving gravelly beaches. In the lakes a reddish plant akin 

 to seaweed coats the bottom, and dries to a leathery wrinkled 

 mass. The skuas nest anywhere, not even a semblance of a 

 nest being perceptible. They resent intrusion very strongly, 

 and every one is at first slightly intimidated by the tremendous 

 swoops, rushing wings, fierce eyes, and shrill cries of protest. 

 I wanted a specimen, and decided to test a method of obtaining 

 it, which smacked somewhat of Munchausen when described 

 to me in Australia. Taking a flat slab of kenyte I waited 

 until a skua was approaching. Then, before the bird arrived, 

 I threw the rock into the air almost straight up. The bird 

 collided with it as it was falling, and dropped to the ground 

 stunned. This scheme of hunting is really much more certain 

 than it sounds, for the bird has apparently no fear of objects 

 above it. 



The ship was moved to a fresh berth, some five hundred 

 yards nearer the hut, and also nearer the slopes of Erebus. 

 Henceforth almost all the transport was effected by pony 

 teams. There were many incidents at first, for the ponies 

 did not understand the icy surface, and were by no means 

 too subdued by their long voyage to object to most of the 

 duties demanded of them. Hackenschmidt is still obdurate, 

 I believe, but the others have calmed down, and done their 



