SOUTHWARD ahs 
tempt ; there never was any pressure in the heavy ice, and 
I’m inclined to think there never would be. 
“The weather changed frequently during our journey 
through the pack. The wind blew strong from the west 
and from the east ; the sky was often darkly overcast ; we 
had snowstorms, flaky snow, and even light rain. In all 
such circumstances we were better placed in the pack than 
outside of it. The foulest weather could do us little harm. 
During quite a large percentage of days, however, we had 
bright sunshine, which, even with the temperature well 
below freezing, made everything look bright and cheerful. 
The sun also brought us wonderful cloud effects, marvel- 
lously delicate tints of sky, cloud and ice, such effects as 
one might travel far to see. In spite of our impatience we 
would not willingly have missed many of the beautiful 
scenes which our sojourn in the pack afforded us. Ponting 
and Wilson have been busy catching these effects, but no 
art can reproduce such colours as the deep blue of the ice- 
Beres.’’ 1 
As a rule the officer of the watch conned from the 
crow’s nest, shouting his orders to the steersman direct, 
and to the engine-room through the midshipman of the 
watch, who stood upon the bridge. It is thrilling work to 
| 
_ the officer in charge, who not only has to face the immediate 
problem of what floes he dare and what he dare not charge, 
but also to puzzle out the best course for the future,—but I 
expect he soon gets sick of it. 
About this time Bowers made a fancy sketch of the 
Terra Nova hitting an enormous piece of ice. The masts 
are all whipped forward, and from the crow’s nest is shot 
first the officer of the watch, followed by cigarette ends and 
empty cocoa mugs, and lastly the hay with which the floor 
was covered. Upon the forecastle stands Farmer Hayseed 
(Oates) chewing a straw with the greatest composure, and 
waiting until the hay shall fall at his feet, at which time he 
will feed it to his ponies. This crow’s nest, which was a 
barrel lashed to the top of the mainmast, to which entrance 
was gained by a hinged trap-door, shielded the occupant 
1 Scott’s Last Expedition, vol. i. pp. 73-75- 
