CHAPTER III 
WINTER MONTHS 
The month of March opened with a severe north-easterly gale. 
Five Weddells and two crab-eaters were shot on the floe during 
the morning of March 1, and the wind, with fine drifting snow, 
sprang up while the carcasses were being brought in by sledging 
parties. The men were compelled to abandon some of the 
blubber and meat, and they had a struggle to get back to the 
ship over the rough ice in the teeth of the storm. This gale 
continued until the 3rd, and all hands were employed clearing 
out the 'tween-decks, which was to be converted into a living- 
and dining-room for officers and scientists. The carpenter 
erected in this room the stove that had been intended for use 
in the shore hut, and the quarters were made very snug. The 
dogs appeared indifferent to the blizzard. They emerged 
occasionally from the drift to shake themselves and bark, but 
were content most of the time to lie, curled into tight balls, 
under the snow. One of the old dogs, Saint, died on the night 
of the 2nd, and the doctors reported that the cause of death 
was appendicitis. 
When the gale cleared we found that the pack had been 
driven in from the north-east and was now more firmly consoli- 
dated than before. A new berg, probably fifteen miles in length, 
had appeared on the northern horizon. The bergs within our 
circle of vision had all become familiar objects, and we had 
names for some of them. Apparently they were all drifting 
with the pack. ^J^he sighting of a new berg was of more than 
passing interest, since in that comparatively shallow sea it 
would be possible for a big berg to become stranded. Then the 
island of ice would be a centre of tremendous pressure and 
disturbance amid the drifting pack. We had seen something 
already of the smashing effect of a contest between berg and 
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