I 2 
SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [December 
prevent themselves being washed o/erboard, and with 
coal bags and loose cases washing about, there was every 
risk of such hold being torn away. 
i No sooner was some semblance of order restored 
than some exceptionally heavy wave would tear away 
the lashing and the work had to be done all over again/ 
The night wore on, the sea and wind ever rising, and 
the ship ever plunging more distractedly ; we shortened 
sail to main topsail and staysail, stopped engines and 
hove to, but to little purpose. Tales of ponies down came 
frequently from forward, where Oatcs and Atkinson 
laboured through the entire night. Worse was to follow, 
much worse — a report from the engine-room that the 
pumps had choked and the water risen over the gratings. 
From this moment, about 4 a.m., the engine-room 
became the centre of interest. The water gained in spite 
of every effort. Lashly, to his neck in rushing water, 
stuck gamely to the work of clearing suctions. For a 
time, with donkey engine and bilge pump sucking, it 
looked as though the water would be got under ; but 
the hope was short-lived : five minutes of pumping in- 
variably led to the same result — a general choking of the 
pumps. 
The outlook appeared grim. The amount of water 
which was being made, with the ship so roughly handled, 
was most uncertain. \ We knew that normally the ship 
was not making much water, but we also knew that a 
considerable part of the water washing over the upper 
deck must be finding its way below ; the decks were 
leaking in streams. The ship was very deeply laden ; 
