FROM EDINBURGH TO THE ANTARCTIC 179 
widgeon, and very large and strong, as also were its 
yellow-webbed feet, but its wings were small as a flapper's, 
and not large enough to lift it off the water, so its only 
means of progression was to flap along the surface, 
splashing with its wings and feet The feathers were 
hard and short, of a granite grey on the back, changing to 
a marble yellow on the breast. This duck makes such a 
noise and spluttering going over the water that it has 
been called the steamer-duck, or sometimes the logger- 
head, from its large, heavy head. 
On the beach we found the Rev. Mr. H patiently 
waiting for us. The Balsena lay opposite, in the middle of 
the harbour, her topmasts and yards black against the red 
evening sky, her hull and lower rigging lost and blended 
into the dark hill-side beyond. A light or two peeped 
out from the Stanley houses, the water was smooth as 
silver, and the air full of the sweet smell of burning peat. 
We felt as if we were standing on the shores of some sea 
loch in our Western Highlands. 
We raided the pantry when we got on board, — now it is 
really worth raiding — and made a spread of fresh mutton 
and fruit pies on the doctor's chest. That meal of fresh 
food formed an episode in our lives. I think we were tired 
as Londoners after a Twelfth. The three months on board 
ship had put us completely out of training, but there was 
to be no rest. Some people in the cabin, and a company 
from the neighbouring ships the Hyderabad and the Old 
Kensington} that the mate was entertaining in his abode, 
1 The Old Kensington had been here since the previous May getting 
damages repaired. She had been generally smashed up coming round the 
