76 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION 
All the scientific people keep night watch when they have 
no special work to do, and I have never seen a party 
of men so anxious to be doing work or so cheerful in 
doing it. When there is anything to be done, such as 
making or shortening sail, digging ice from floes for the 
water supply, or heaving up the sounding line, it goes 
without saying that all the afterguard turn out to do it. 
There is no hesitation and no distinction. It will be the 
same when it comes to landing stores or doing any other 
hard manual labour. 
* The spirit of the enterprise is as bright as ever. Every 
one strives to help every one else, and not a word of 
complaint or anger has been heard on board. The inner 
life of our small community is very pleasant to think 
upon and very wonderful considering the extremely 
small space in which we are confined. 
'The attitude of the men is equally worthy of admira- 
tion. In the forecastle as in the wardroom there is a 
rush to be first when work is to be done, and the same 
desire to sacrifice selfish consideration to the success of 
the expedition. It is very good to be able to write in 
such high praise of one's companions, and I feel that 
the possession of such support ought to ensure success. 
Fortune would be in a hard mood indeed if it allowed 
such a combination of knowledge, experience, ability, and 
enthusiasm to achieve nothing.' 
