SOUTH 
of the sLip remained firm. The light was now very bad except 
in the period when the friendly moon was above the horizon. 
A faint twilight round about noon of each day reminded us 
of the sun, and assisted us in the important work of exercising 
the dogs. The care of the teams was our heaviest responsibility 
in those days. The movement of the floes was beyond all 
human control, and there was nothing to be gained by allowing 
one's mind to struggle with the problems of the future, though 
it was hard to avoid anxiety at times. The conditioning and 
training of the dogs seemed essential, whatever fate might be 
in store for us, and the teams were taken out by their drivers 
whenever the weather permitted. Rivalries arose, as might 
have been expected, and on the 15tli of the month a 
great race, the Antarctic Derby," took place. It was a 
notable event. The betting had been heavy, and every man 
aboard the ship stood to win or lose on the result of the contest. 
Some money had been staked, but the wagers that thrilled 
were those involving stores of chocolate and cigarettes. The 
course had been laid off from Khyber Pass, at the eastern end 
of the old lead ahead of the ship, to a point clear of the jib-boom, 
a distance of about 700 yds. Five teams went out in the dim 
noon twilight, with a zero temperature and an aurora flickering 
faintly to the southward. The starting signal was to be given 
by the flashing of a light on the meteorological station. I was 
appointed starter, Worsley was judge, and James was time- 
keeper. The bos'n, with a straw hat added to his usual Antarctic 
attire, stood on a box near the winning-post, and was assisted 
by a couple of shady characters to shout the odds, which were 
displayed on a board hung around his neck — 6 to 4 on Wild, 
" evens " on Crean, 2 to 1 against Hurley, 6 to 1 against Macklin, 
and 8 to 1 against Mcllroy. Canvas handkerchiefs fluttered 
from an improvised grand stand, and the pups, which had 
never seen such strange happenings before, sat round and howled 
with excitement. The spectators could not see far in the dim 
light, but they heard the shouts of the drivers as the teams 
approached and greeted the victory of the favourite with a roar 
of cheering that must have sounded strange indeed to any 
seals or penguins that happened to be in our neighbourhood. 
52 
