264 WITH SCOTT : THE SILVER LINING 



elevated bunks were (like the " gods ' at a theatre) not 

 specially well ventilated, so that I preferred my cooler sleep- 

 ing-place. 



Next day Simpson and I went off again to look at the 

 Igloo. There was only a faint starlight, and we could 

 neither find the Igloo nor the Cape when we turned back ! 

 However, we steered by a star and got back to the hut by 

 a longer route, during which I fell three feet into the tide 

 crack between the sea ice and the hut. 



That evening Day lectured on " Motor Sledges." It 

 was good to hear him so optimistic. Scott told us of his 

 experiences at Lauteret in France with the " Antarcticker ' 

 Charcot. (Quite recently a statue to Captain Scott has been 

 erected by the French in this region.) 



I had agreed to sketch the movements of the steam cloud 

 from Erebus during the winter, but I note on the 20th June, 

 that it was about the first time for a month that I had been able 

 to see the top of Erebus. Ponting reported that it was glowing 

 strongly during the day ; but no colour was visible when I 

 went out to look at it, while Debenham spent a long while 

 outside on the off chance of an eruption. But —35 cooled 

 him off, and he came in unsuccessful. 



"Midwinter Day, June 22, 191 1. — Here it is Midwinter 

 Day, and except in my sleeping-bag sledging, I have not felt 

 specially cold down here, sixty below freezing without wind 

 is perfectly comfortable. But this morning a nippy north 

 wind made my thumbs ache while cutting out the fish trap, 

 and Atch's and my noses are getting red-tipped and sore. 

 Still, I've known that happen elsewhere ! One never gets 

 ' chaps ' here ; I wonder why ? However, August is the 

 coldest month and the stormiest, but it will be lighter then. 



" This afternoon, at 3 p.m. (Greenwich) there was a 

 strong twilight to north. Light red (a clear non-yellow 

 colour) along the horizon. Then indigo — probably a cloud — 

 then clear pale blue, and above this slate-blue merging into the 

 star area. No moon or sun. But an hour later all this had 

 vanished. 



" I am on night duty. Dr. Bill was up till 1 a.m. He 

 heard me cursing because I couldn't find my towel after my 

 usual bath, and came to help me. Bathing at 6° above 

 freezing-point, you don't care to wait about much ! I have 



