THE HEART OF THE ANTARCTIC 



to amputate at least part of the big toe. The rest of the 

 party all had a certain amount of work for the common 

 weal, apart from their own scientific duties. From 

 the time we arrived we always had a night-watchman, 

 and now took turns to carry out this important duty. 

 Roberts was exempt from night-watchman's duties, 

 as he was busy with the cooking all day, so for the 

 greater part of the winter every thirteenth night each 

 member took the night watch. The ten-o'clock obser- 

 vations was the night-watchman's first duty, and 

 from that hour till nine o'clock next morning he was 

 responsible for the well-being and care of the hut, 

 ponies and dogs. His most important duties were 

 the two-hourly meteorological observations, the upkeep 

 of the fire and the care of the acetylene gas-plant. 

 The fire was kept going all through the night, and hot 

 water was ready for making the breakfast when Roberts 

 was called at 7.30 in the morning. The night watch 

 was by no means an unpleasant duty, and gave us 

 each an opportunity, when our turn came round, of 

 washing clothes, darning socks, writing and doing little 

 odd jobs which could not receive much attention during 

 the day. The night-watchman also generally took his 

 bath either once a fortnight, or once a month as his incli- 

 nation prompted him. 



Some individuals had a regular programme which 

 they adhered to strictly. For instance, one member, 

 directly the rest of the staff had gone to bed, cleared 

 the small table in front of the stove, spread a rug on 

 it and settled down to a complicated game of patience, 

 having first armed himself with a supply of coff ee 

 against the wiles of the drowsy god. After the regula- 

 tion numbers of games had been played, the despatch 

 box was opened and letters, private papers and odds 

 and ends were carefully inspected and replaced in their 



206 



