290 WITH SCOTT : THE SILVER LINING 



any of us. The night watches must have pleased them 

 immensely. To see a weary officer nodding and shivering all 

 through the night, while they were snugly rolled in blankets 

 and enjoying an uninterrupted night's rest, was just the state 

 of things they would appreciate ! As I have noted already, 

 some of them unconsciously imitated Kipling's Emanuel 

 Pycroft in " Bonds of Discipline," feeling they might never 

 have the opportunity of reprimanding an officer again, they 

 would pour out (from the shelter of a bed curtain) the vials 

 of their wrath on any unlucky watchman who fell over the 

 fire-irons or discomposed their slumbers ! It is fair to state 

 that in the next winter they cheerfully took on night watches, 

 and were quite equal to reading all the meteorological instru- 

 ments. 



The 15th was a rather threatening morning ; the wind 

 coming from the west, which was most unusual. " Deben- 

 ham says this implies a blizzard. Every one has a different 

 theory of blizzard forecasting. Mine is simple ! If you've 

 had four days fine, you're sure to get a blizzard ! This works 

 well in winter." 



" Last night we had an addition to our Antarctic family. 

 Innumerable pups accrued to us, descendants of our long- 

 haired collie, 'Lady,' and the Siberian dog, l Beely-glass.' 

 They occupy a corner of the stable, and add life to our 

 menage. Julik went off some time ago, and is undoubtedly 

 lost ; though it is difficult to see how, unless he got into a 

 deep crack. The other day Peary and Cook and another dog 

 (harnessed to the cook's light sledge) bolted. They tipped 

 Clissold into the tide-crack, and made for Cape Royds. 

 Luckily, Atkinson managed to catch them. Tsigane, Peary, 

 and Cook are the only dogs I'd care to take back." The others 

 were too unsociable, and though by no means savage when 

 well fed, they were little interested in their owners' doings, 

 and exhibited none of the so-called dog-like affection. 



Wright and I walked south over Cape Evans, and above 

 the curious belt of moraine, which we called Land's End. 

 It was pretty cold, for Evans found the mercury frozen that 

 day at Clarence ; but as there was no wind this did not affect 

 us after the exercise made us warm. Sometimes one could 

 feel one's nose " go with a ping," as if the blood had really 

 solidified in one's veins. But vigorous rubbing and nursing in 



