428 WITH SCOTT: THE SILVER LINING 



I went on iceberg- watch again from 8 p.m. till 10. There 

 was some snow again, and it was difficult to see anything. 

 All this week we had been driving to the west, so as to pick 

 up the constant west winds and sail on a slant up to New 

 Zealand. We had only forty-seven tons of coal left now, 

 and if we got blown past New Zealand with no coal — as was 

 quite probable — it would take weeks for this bluff old whaler 

 to beat back against head winds. 



Poor old Nigger has gone overboard, finally we fear. We 

 were all proud of our black Tom. He fell overboard on the 

 last voyage, and luckily was seen manfully (or catfully ?) 

 swimming along in the wake of the ship. The crew got 

 out a boat, saved him, and were back in twelve minutes ! 

 But no one saw the last tragedy. In the hold we found two 

 rabbits having a thin time, and fed them on carrots and bread 

 and milk. I don't know their ultimate fate. (There's a 

 black welcome for bunnies in Australia, which I thought 

 extended to New Zealand also.) 



I can see the afterguard becoming regular sailor-men ! 

 On the 20th we had another mutiny — about food this 

 time. 



The Mutineers. " When are you going to give us a 

 change from this everlasting mutton, Frankie ? " 



Store-keeper Drake. " Mutton's very good food." 



Mutineers. " Why can't we have ' True-egg ' omelettes ? ' 



Drake. " Well, perhaps we could have that as an 

 additional dish." 



Mutineers. " Why additional^ Frankie ? " 



Drake. " Because Frankie doesn't like True-egg ! ' And 

 he added, " If you want more mutton^ just say so ! ' 



(A very finished " cagger " is Frankie Drake.) 



We had very variable weather during the last week or so 

 of our voyage, and I give herewith the record of the worst 

 gale ever experienced by any man on the Terra Nova. My 

 journal suffered in consequence, but I will copy my notes 

 written just after the gale, verbatim. First of all, here is a 

 copy of the ship's log for the worst days of the gale. 



