DIGGING OUT THE STORES 



with the scientific observations that were to be an im- 

 portant part of the work of the expedition. 



The next four or five days were spent in using pick 

 and shovel and iron crowbars on the envelope of ice that 

 covered our cases, corners of which only peeped out from 

 the mass. The whole had the appearance of a piece of 

 the sweet known as almond rock, and there was as much 

 difficulty in getting the cases clear of the ice as would 

 be experienced if one tried to separate almonds from that 

 sticky conglomerate without injury. Occasionally the 

 breaking out of a case would disclose another which 

 could be easily extracted, but more often each case 

 required the pick or crowbars. A couple of earnest 

 miners might be seen delving and hewing the ice off a 

 case, of which only the corner could be seen, and after 

 ten minutes' hard work it would be hauled up, and the 

 stencilled mark of its contents exposed to view. Brockle- 

 hurst took great interest in the recovery of the chocolate, 

 and during this work took charge of one particular case 

 which had been covered by the ice. He carried it himself 

 up to the hut so as to be sure of its safety, and he was 

 greeted with joy by the Professor, who recognised in the 

 load some of his scientific instruments which were playing 

 the part of the cuckoo in an old chocolate box. Needless 

 to say Brocklehurst's joy was not as heartfelt as the 

 Professor's. 



After about four days' hard work at the Front Door 

 Bay landing-place, the bulk of the stores was recovered, 

 and I think we may say that there was not much lost 

 permanently, though, as time went on, and one or two 

 cases that were required did not turn up, we used to 

 wonder whether they had been left on board the ship, 

 or were buried under the ice. We do know for 

 certain that our only case of beer lies to this day under 

 the ice, and it was not until a few days before our final 



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