266 WITH SCOTT: THE SILVER LINING 



" There were about ten full-page illustrations, and many 

 drawn by Bill in spaces left in the text when typed. 



" The guessing at authors was very funny. Gran was 

 rabidly curious. I fear no one thought I had done ' Val- 

 halla,' which is a mixed pleasure— for all seem to enjoy it ; 

 while Nelson put down the * Protoplasmic Cycle ' to Deben- 

 ham, though he had actually read the verse in the Pack in my 

 diary ! Bill's illustrations are tiptop, especially the three 

 * Egyptian tablets. The latter are frightfully clever apart from 

 the draughtsmanship. Every line is a history in itself. 



" The first sketch shows three of the debris cones on the 

 Ramp. One is labelled — in honour of our cubicle — the 

 Ubdugs, while Birdie, in his green hat, crowns another. 



, " The second shows Keohane painting (he did the yellow 

 funnel on the ship). He stands on Forde. ' Chippy ' carries 

 the hut, and Abbott (with frosted hair) helps him. Day on 

 his motor has his long legs and arms disposed in true hiero- 

 glyphic attitudes. Meteorological signs for thunder and 

 lightning surround the engine. 



" In the bottom corner is the western party sledging. 

 Three men pulling hard, while one lanky individual provided 

 with a long beard is sketching instead of working ! This is 

 a foul and funny libel on myself ! 



" The third represents Birdie, Crean, and Cherry (with 

 spectacles) adrift on the floe. This is labelled with the sign * 

 (tor ice) to prevent any mistake. The killer whales are 

 going for Birdie's fat legs. Then there's the 1902 Hut 

 bulging out with ice, with drip-pots to catch the thaw, and 

 1 Hoosh ' labelled in Beaufort scale letters. 



" In the other corner a screaming drawing of the c Little 

 Perisher ' (Atkinson) caressing a frostbitten ear and nose 

 which is labelled with the c glazed frost ' sign. They are the 

 funniest pictures I have ever seen, and beat Hogarth into a 

 cocked hat for detail. 



EXTRACT FROM SOME ANTARCTIC ARCHIVES. 



1. And it came to pass that in the month of January, 



2. Scothe-Ohnah took up wintak-watahs on Ros-is-land. 



3. And there was great barkinofdogs and neighinofhorses 



4. With phufphuf of motahs. 



5. The Hut was raised by chypechap, fordandkohane. 



