302 WITH SCOTT: THE SILVER LINING 



goat-hair socks attract the moisture. " Oh ! as you were ! " No, I 

 don't mean that ! (G. T. — I find I've omitted the correction, how- 

 ever !) Personally, I think that an old sock makes an excellent 

 nose-nip ! 



Sverdrup used to use a double tent for warmth with good results. 

 I think we might modify the tent opening, and make the tent floor- 

 cloth wider. If the sleeping-bags were provided with a separate hood, 

 they would not get so wet. On our midwinter trip we found that 

 eiderdown inner bags were no use after fourteen days. It was best to 

 change sides with the fur bags and scrape them. The hair inside was 

 warmer, but held the perspiration more. 



The wind helmet should certainly be made fast to the blouse ; and 

 I think lanyards fasten the bag-flaps much better than toggles. These 

 are the only improvements I can suggest in our clothing. 



The seamen played six- handed euchre most evenings, 

 while the two Russians looked at illustrated papers and turned 

 in somewhat early. The mess-deck used to read the books 

 in the library, and especially Debenham's paper-backs. When 

 1 ran short I raided their small private stock. I was assured 

 by TafF Evans that one by Hichens " is no good, for no one 

 in the mess-deck can read it ! " Needless to say I did not 

 always agree with this stalwart board of navy critics. 



On the 8th of September the second volume of S. P. T. 

 appeared. Cherry wrote the Editorial in the best style of 

 the Times. Some eighteen pages were devoted to a skit on 

 life in the Hut, called the "Bipes." Its redeeming feature is 

 a series of coloured illustrations by Uncle Bill. In it I gave 

 a somewhat garbled but recognizable view of various person- 

 alities at headquarters. The tenants of the Diarist's Den [i.e. 

 our cubicle) as well as the Conservative party (the " Bunder- 

 lohg ") came in for their share of attention on the part of the 

 inquisitive rabbit ; who is here supposed to observe the habits 

 and customs of the so-called Bipes. 



Simpson contributed a gruesome account of the decline 

 and fall of the human race in the last days of the earth's 

 habitation. The only panacea seemed to be certain elixirs 

 to be obtained near Mount Erebus. There was a beautifully 

 illustrated rhyme dealing with the midwinter party at Cape 

 Crozier. I could never discover who was the writer unless 

 it was the Owner himself. Simpson's career was described in 

 a semi-serious article, "Celebrities in Glass Houses." There 

 were two poems called into being by the return of the sun, 



