346 WITH SCOTT: THE SILVER LINING 



on to the chart, for no one has been able to sight them since 

 their discovery. 



We camped just after midnight for lunch, at which I 

 presided. As usual, it consisted of tea, biscuits (hard 

 sledging tack for Gran and me, and soft " Shackleton " 

 biscuits for Debenham and Forde), raisins, butter, and 

 chocolate. 



The Discovery map was obviously quite incorrect here, 

 and our chief guide was Professor David's account. From 

 the times of his daily marches we expected to reach Granite 

 Harbour earlier than the rough chart indicated, for he speaks 

 of the harbour as being twenty miles out of position ! The 

 only place for a bay " five miles wide " seemed to be about 

 ten miles ahead, so that I hoped that a few more days would 

 settle the question. 



We got a fine view of Erebus, especially of the old crater 

 whose wall sticks up like a gigantic black fang on the northern 

 slope. Mount Terror was also visible now round the hump 

 of Erebus. The steam banner from the latter was very 

 striking, stretching far to the south, and then, at 8 p.m., 

 shifting to the north after some big puffs. This usually 

 indicated a strong change in the weather — which was the last 

 thing we desired in our present position off the inhospitable 

 face of the Piedmont Glacier ! 



We camped on rather thin snow and weighted the tent 

 flounce with the biscuit boxes. It was very warm inside the 

 tent, and though the outer air was 14 below freezing, small 

 pools of water lay on the tent flounces in the full heat of the 

 sun. " I made the dinner. The pemmican was not bad, 

 though not so creamy as Deb's, which has a reputation. It is 

 a month to Christmas, and we have been sledging three weeks. 

 I find it much more pleasant than last February, even with 

 our abnormal loads. I plan out things while pulling auto- 

 matically, and the miles pass along somehow. Camps are 

 much more comfortable, and of course it is warmer now ! 



" It is very confusing having breakfast at 7.30 p.m., and 

 sleeping or trying to sleep through the day. I find it rather hot, 

 and generally only sleep four hours and think away the other 

 four. However, there is no comparison between the surface by 

 night and by day, for though the sun is bright at midnight 

 he is not nearly so high or warm and does not melt the ice 



