202 WITH SCOTT: THE SILVER LINING 



Point. Here the ice varied somewhat. In places huge 

 splashes of slush had frozen ; in others ribbons eight inches 

 thick had overridden each other. All seemed bumped up by- 

 swinging against the fixed ice-foot. Black wedges of clear ice 

 grew out into the water channels, and the edges of the latter 

 were often warped and twisted. In Pram Bay there were 

 numerous seals ; one barked or growled, another opened his 

 jaws nearly 180 , and his tongue shivered at us. A third 

 gurgled musically, but only on one note. Later I saw one 

 menacing his neighbour and barking at him. 



About 200 yards inland was a cache where we had seven 

 seal carcases ready for consumption. 



As we returned I found some small fish, about eight inches 

 long (Notothenia), buried in the ice, and three smaller fry lying 

 on the surface. The stakes left by Ferrar in the ice across 

 the Gap still seemed to be in line, so that there had been no 

 movement of the ice since 1903. On reaching the hut we 

 reprimanded Dr. Bill and Bowers for collecting "gabbroid 

 nodules," etc., when their zoological tastes should have sent 

 them fishing. After which we exhibited the frozen sprats. 



I began the month of April by helping Bowers as cook. 

 I write : "At 7.15 threw back sleeping-bag after uncoiling 

 my jersey from my neck. Put on coat and finnesko, and was 

 fully dressed. Curious that one feels no worse for lack of a 

 wash, bath or change, for over two months." 



We had a tasty bovril hoosh, flavoured by some of the 

 treasure trove. Debenham and Wright dived deeply into 

 their pots and brought up chaff. (Birdie's joke for April 1st !) 

 The seal we had killed was declared to be suffering from liver 

 complaint, and weak heart. Hence his susceptibility to 

 sudden shock ! Anyhow the dogs ate all but the flippers 

 and seemed none the worse. 



Wright and I went further south on our next walk, right 

 beyond Cape Armitage. I took to finnesko finally, for con- 

 duction along a big nail in the leather boots had frost-bitten 

 my toe, and for months afterwards I had little sensation in it. 



" We saw an emperor penguin walking towards us with a 

 rolling gait. He retreated as we individually surrounded him, 

 then bolted on his belly with snaky neck vibrating amid 

 squawks. He turned on Wright, who killed him with two 

 whacks on the neck and two picks in the brain. I pithed him 



