i 9 o2] ENRAGED PENGUINS 125 



afford. Now for the first time this extraordinary ice-formation 

 was seen from above. The sea to the north lay clear and 

 blue, save where it was dotted by snowy- white bergs; the 

 barrier edge, in shadow, looked like a long narrowing black 

 ribbon as it ran with slight windings to the eastern horizon. 

 South of this line, to the S.E. of our position, a vast plain 

 extended indefinitely, whilst faint shadows on its blue-grey 

 surface seemed to indicate some slight inequality in level ; 

 further yet to the south the sun faced us, and the plain was 

 lost in the glitter of its reflection. It was an impressive sight, 

 and the very vastness of what lay at our feet seemed to add to 

 our sense of its mystery. 



But there was now 16 of frost, the chill air soon counter- 

 acted the warmth generated by our climb, and we were glad 

 to be again on the move. As we stumbled down the steep 

 inclines of the penguin rookery the astonished chicks ran 

 helter-skelter in all directions ; following blindly the direction 

 in which their beaks were pointing they frequently collided 

 with each other and ran full tilt into our legs. It was often 

 difficult to avoid treading on them j but as the chicks scattered, 

 the old birds raised their ruffs in anger, and, quite devoid of 

 fear, rushed at us with hoarse cries of rage. After beating wildly 

 at our shins with their beaks and flippers they would fall back 

 growling and cursing in the most abominable manner. Shortly 

 after we regained the beach our magnetic observers completed 

 their task, and when they had taken a short run to rouse up 

 their chilled circulation we all assembled to launch the boat. 



This did not prove by any means an easy matter. Await- 

 ing our opportunity, we rushed her down on a receding wave, 

 and up to our knees in water we endeavoured to launch her 

 clear of the surf and at the same time to spring on board ; but 

 the next wave caught our stern, and in a moment we were 

 broadside on and in imminent risk of being swamped. It was 

 an occasion which called for instant action, and when it was 

 good to have a boat manned by sailors. At the critical 

 moment Mr. Barne leapt over the side and seized the stern of 

 the boat, and his example was instantly followed by two or 



