THE FIRST WINTER IgI 
and all: it depended on the pony and the weather. A 
blubber fire was kept burning in the snug stable, which 
was built against the lee wall of the hut: the ponies were, 
therefore, quite warm, and found it chilly directly they 
were led outside, even if there was no wind. 
The difficulties of exercising them in the dark were so 
ereat that with the best intentions in the world it was diffi- 
cult to give them sufficient work for the good feeding they 
received. Add to this the fact that one at any rate of these 
variable animals was really savage, and that most of them 
were keen to break away if possible, and the hour of exer- 
cise was not without its thrills even on the calmest and 
most moonlight days. The worst days were those when it 
was difficult to say whether the ponies should be taken out 
on the sea-ice or not. It was thick weather that was to be 
feared, for then, if the leader once lost his bearings, it was 
most difficult for him to return. An overcast sky, light 
falling snow, perhaps a light northerly wind generally 
meant a blizzard, but the blizzard might not break for 
twenty-four hours, it might be upon you in four seconds. 
It was difficult to say whether the pony should miss his 
exercise, whether the fish trap should be raised, whether 
to put off your intended trip to Cape Royds. Generally the 
risks were taken, for, on the whole, it is better to be a little 
over-bold than a little over-cautious, while always there 
was a something inside urging you to do it just because 
there was a certain risk, and you hardly liked not to do it. 
It is so easy to be afraid of being afraid ! 
Let me give one instance: it must be typical of many. 
It was thick as it could be, no moon, no stars, light falling 
snow, and not even a light breeze to keep in your face to 
give direction. Bowers and I decided to take our ponies 
out, and once over the tide crack, where the working sea- 
ice joins the fast land-ice, we kept close under the tall cliffs 
of the Barne Glacier. So far all was well, and also when 
we struck along a small crack into the middle of the bay, 
where there was a thermometer screen. This we read with 
some difhiculty by the light of a match and started back 
towards the hut. In about a quarter of an hour we knew 
