IN WINTER QUARTERS WITH CAPTAIN SCOTT 313 



between a McCormick Skua and a Weddell Seal. This was 

 illustrated in similar style by Uncle Bill. 



One day when I was typing this copy on Cherry's type- 

 writer, Bill came to me with a poem he had written. He 

 asked me to type it so that Cherry should not recognize his 

 writing. He wanted it to be perfectly anonymous, for he 

 knew anything of Bill's would go in from our admiration of 

 the writer ! I saw that he had copied my footnote (so as 

 to puzzle Cherry further) asking that an illustration be ap- 

 pended by the artist on the staff ! 



(This poem is that forming the introduction to the second 

 volume of Scott's Last Expedition.) A few days later Cherry 

 brought me all the MS. and was graciously pleased to com- 

 pliment me on the lot — especially the poem " Barrier Silence " ! 

 So I had to disclaim authorship — in spite of the footnote. 

 After some time I think he believed me, but he wanted two 

 lines cleared up a little and asked me to do it. I declined 

 to alter it, but said that evidently the author expected Bill 

 (as artist) to see the poem, and that I was sure that whatever 

 he and Bill agreed to would satisfy the author ! Whereat I 

 heard Bill chuckle, and later it was returned to me emended as 

 shown in the annexed facsimile. 



Two explanations are perhaps helpful. The surface of 

 the Barrier over large areas often sinks suddenly to a slight 

 degree when it is disturbed by a sledge party, and this 

 " shudder ' has a very eerie sound. The glare from the 

 blinding surface affects the eyes much as does a hot substance, 

 and this is independent of the temperature. Hence the 

 remark, "Scorched and froze us through and through." 



Evans, Gran, and Forde had done a rapid and useful 

 dash south to see if the first dep6ts were in good order. 

 They experienced awfully low temperatures (below — 70 !), 

 but managed to dig out the cases at the dep6t, and restore 

 them to a more noticeable position. It must have been an 

 awful job, and there was evidence of this after their return. 

 Forde awoke next morning to find three of his fingers black, 

 and one was soon attacked with gangrene ! For months his 

 right hand was bound up, and he was unable to use it fully 

 right through our western journey next summer. 



The geologists had to be very active, and make the most 

 of the next week or two to study the numerous problems 



