30 British Antarctic Expedition. 
all down the route, till one of the most remarkable 
sunsets happened that has been seen on the Thames 
for many a day. The west was a sheet of crimson 
gold, and the river a sheet of fire. The moon rose 
pale and silvery, then the stars came out in a crowd ; 
up went tite 
lights, the bright 
white on the 
foremast and 
the red light 
on the larboard, 
and the green 
light on ihe 
starboard. The 
craft он тс 
river lost form ; 
their lights only 
were visible—a 
great mysterious 
crowd of  will- 
o'-the-wisps. 
Gravesend was 
approached at 
8.15, and it was 
decided to coal 
“AT LAST ALL WAS-READY.? at fme. imul. 
So the Southern 
Cross took up her station, and black diamonds 
began to rattle aboard. Three or four boatmen 
now came alongside, and the few friends who 
had to. go on shore crept down the side of the 
ship into the boats, and with them some four of the 
younger men of the expedition, for there is to be a 
