WmTER MONTHS 
Wild's time was 2 min. 16 sec, or at the rate of 10| miles per 
hour for the com'se. 
We celebrated Midwinter's Day on the 22nd. The twilight 
extended over a period of about six hoiu's that day, and there 
was a good light at noon from the moon, and also a northern 
glow with wisps of beautiful pink cloud along the horizon. 
A sounding gave 262 fathoms witli a mud bottom. No land 
was in sight from the mast-head, although our range of vision 
extended probably a full degree to the westward. The day 
was observed as a holiday, necessary work only being under- 
taken, and, after the best dinner the cook could provide, all 
hands gathered in the Ritz, where speeches, songs, and toasts 
occupied the evening. After supper at midnight we sang 
" God Save the King " and wished each other all success in 
the days of sunshine and efiort that lay ahead. At this time 
the Endurance was making an unusually rapid drift to the 
north imder the influence of a fresh southerly to south-westerly 
breeze. We travelled 39 miles to the north in five days before 
a breeze that only once attained the force of a gale and then 
for no more than an hour. The absence of strong winds, in 
comparison with the almost unceasing winter blizzards of the 
Ross Sea, was a feature of the Weddell Sea that impressed itself 
upon me during the winter months. 
Another race took place a few days after the " Derby." 
The two crack teams, driven by Hurley and Wikl, met in a 
race from Khyber Pass. AVild's team, pulling 910 lb., or 
130 lb. per dog, covered the 700 yds. in 2 min. 9 sec, or at the 
rate of IM miles per hour. Hurley's team, with the same 
load, did the run in 2 min. 16 sec. The race was awarded by 
the judge to Hurley owing to Wild failing to weigh in " 
correctly. I happened to be a paxt of the load on Jiis sledge, 
and a skid over some new drift within fifty yards of the winning- 
post resulted in my being left on the snow. It should be said 
in justice to the dogs that this accident, while justifying the 
disqualification, could not liave made any material difference 
in the time. 
The approach of the returning sun was indicated by beautiful 
sunrise glows on the horizon in the early days of July. We 
53 
