i 9 02] THE DOGS AND THE WHIP 165 



working hours it was quite calm and we were able to push 

 ahead with the huts. 



• As the ice has broken away around the cape, the sledge 

 party have had stiff work in dragging their sledge and pram 

 over the " Gap " ; they will start fair from that side to-morrow. 



' There have been arguments lately as to the necessity of a 

 whip in driving dogs, and to-day the two keenest controver- 

 sialists, Armitage and Bernacchi, who are respectively for and 

 against coercive methods, had a competition. They selected 

 their own teams, and, whether by accident or design, 

 Armitage selected all the fighting element, whilst Bernacchi's 

 team were mostly the younger and timider dogs. At first 

 neither team could be got to start at all ; there was a wild 

 confusion of twisted traces and some exciting fights ; but 

 eventually, amidst the cheers of the onlookers, Bernacchi 

 succeeded in coaxing his animals into a trot, from which they 

 broke into a gallop, and, heading up the steep snow-slope, left 

 the driver breathless behind. Whilst this was scarcely the 

 exhibition of control that had been intended, the other team 

 had refused to trot at all, and the honours of the day were of 

 necessity given to the advocate of gentle persuasion. 



' It is surprising how suddenly the wind rises and drops 

 here. At 6.30 to-night it came on to blow from the north, 

 and, without warning, in the space of a few minutes a strong 

 breeze was blowing. The hawser securing our stern to the 

 ice-foot parted, the ship swung off, and we were obliged to 

 lower a boat in haste to pick up the men who had stayed to 

 secure the half-built hut. By the time they were on board, it 

 was blowing a gale ; we had good shelter from Hut Point, but 

 the swell got up very quickly, and there was soon a consider- 

 able commotion in our small bay. ... At midnight the wind 

 dropped as suddenly as it had risen, and we have now to be 

 prepared for being carried against the ice-foot, which with this 

 swell would probably mean some heavy bumps.' On the 

 following day the wind came as suddenly from the south, and 

 we bumped so heavily on the ice-foot that I thought it 

 advisable to get up steam. 



