SOUTH 
But Soldier, one of the team leaders, went for its throat without 
a moment's hesitation, and we had to beat off the dogs before 
we could shoot the seal. We caught five or six gallons of blood 
in a tin for the dogs, and let the teams have a drink of fresh 
blood from the seal. The light was worse than ever on our 
return, and we arrived back in the dark. Sir Ernest met us 
with a lantern a]id guided us into the lead astern and thence 
to the ship." This was the first seal we had secured since 
March 19, and the meat and blubber made a welcome addition 
to the stores. 
Three emperor penguins made their appearance in a lead 
west of the ship on May 3. They pushed their heads through 
the young ice while two of the men were standing by the lead. 
The men imitated the emperor's call and walked slowly, penguin 
fashion, away from the lead. The birds in succession made a 
magnificent leap 3 ft^ clear from the water on to the young ice. 
Thence they tobogganed to the bank and followed the men 
away from the lead. Their retreat was soon cut off by a line 
of men. " We walk up to them, talking loudly and assuming 
a threatening aspect. Notwithstanding our bad manners, the 
three birds turn towards us, bowing ceremoniously. Then, 
after a closer inspection, they conclude that we are undesirable 
acquaintances and make off across the floe. We head them off 
and finally shepherd them close to the ship, where the frenzied 
barking of the dogs so frightens them that they make a deter- 
mined effort to break through the line. We seize them. One 
bird of philosophic mien goes quietly, led by one flipper. The 
others show fight, but all are imprisoned in an igloo for the 
night. , . . In the afternoon we see five emperors in the western 
lead and capture one. Kerr and Cheetham fight a vaUant 
action with two large birds. Kerr rushes at one, seizes it, and 
is promptly knocked down by the angered penguin, which 
jumps on his chest before retiring. Cheetham comes to Kerr's 
assistance, and between them they seize another penguin, bind 
his bill and lead him, muttering muffled protests, to the ship 
like an inebriated old man between two poHcemen. lie 
weighs 85 lb., or 5 lb. less than the heaviest emperor captured 
previously. Kerr and Cheetham insist that he is nothing to 
48 
