32 FROM EDINBURGH TO THE ANTARCTIC 
pounds when he signed. Two or three he would leave 
with his wife or children to tide them over the first four 
weeks till they could call at the agents for the next half- 
month's pay ; of the remainder, a few shillings would go 
on clothes, a few shillings for preserved milk for the 
voyage ; and if he stood his chums and wife a grog or 
two before leaving for nine months' abstinence, he can 
scarcely be blamed, can he ? 
In the sketch I see I have made the men look rather 
melancholy. Starting an account against their future pay 
possibly is the reason for this expression. Nicholas is writ- 
ing down the name of one of the purchasers. He, behind, 
examining his new sea-boots is not like the Hebrew pur- 
chaser who said it was naught, and went away boasting ; 
he describes the purchase as something or other bad 
before he buys, and worse afterwards ; but sailors all growl. 
Fifty per cent, the skipper makes on his purchase, so Jack 
says ; which of course is a lie, as skippers are just as 
honest as other shopmen, and make a dead loss on such 
transactions. 
Bruce had his first surgical operation to-day. An 
iron-bound block carried away somewhere aloft and came 
down on a man Bonnar's head. He was a stout, elderly 
A.B., and made no moan, but clapped his cap on the hole 
in his skull and was helped along to the cabin. As 
assistant surgeon I did my duty on this occasion by hold- 
ing the doctor's legs — there was a heavy sea on — whilst 
he tinkered up the head, and Nick held the carbolic and 
plaster. 
On the 13th, lat. 58.20, long. 9.47, the weather still held 
