284 FROM EDINBURGH TO THE ANTARCTIC 
having even a fractional interest in the proceeds of the 
voyage, it seemed to me advisable to do a little drawing 
when life was possible on board ship. But my good 
intentions came to nothing: the other boats began coming 
in with their second loads, and with hungry, tired crews, 
and as all hands were working in the boats or laid up, 
Nick and I had to string the skins on to the strops whilst 
our scientific friend spent his time working the winch ; it 
was 8 P.M. by the time the last boat was emptied and 
hauled up on the davits, and I again turned my attention 
from blubber to aesthetics. 
The evening was marvellously beautiful. North of us 
the floating ice was reflected in a calm grey sea ; each 
island delicately tinted with rose. In the south the sea 
was crossed and patched with ice streams and islands 
which showed purple against the reflected gold of the 
evening sky. Before bringing out paints I lit my pipe in 
my kennel and sat down, sea-boots, wet clothes, and all — 
just for three or four whiffs, and less than forty winks, 
and never moved an inch till I opened my eyes and heard 
Nick knocking and saying, 'Breakfast's on the table, sir/ 
Sunday, l$tk January.— Heavy fog to-day, so there is 
no sealing. The crews are having a change of work; they 
are now busy clearing the coals out of the tanks to make 
room for blubber. Whales are sighing round us ; they 
seem to go in couples, and rise and breathe almost 
together, each making one half of a huge, weary, melan- 
choly sigh, with about half a note between the two. We 
can only see the ice a few yards from the ship. Some- 
