92 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [January 
the sailors. Though all arc thin and some few looked 
pulled down I was agreeably surprised at the evident 
vitality which they still possessed — some were even 
skittish. I cannot express the relief when the whole 
seventeen were safely picketed on the floe. From the 
moment of getting on the snow they seemed to take a new 
lease of life, and I haven't a doubt they will pick up very 
rapidly. It really is a triumph to have got them through 
safely and as well as they are. Poor brutes, how they must 
have enjoyed their first roll, and how glad they must be 
to have freedom to scratch themselves! It is evident all 
have suffered from skin irritation — one can imagine the 
horror of suffering from such an ill for weeks without being 
able to get at the part that itched. I note that now 
they are picketed together they administer kindly offices 
to each other ; one sees them gnawing away at each 
other's flanks in most amicable and obliging manner. 
Meares and the dogs were out early, and have been 
running to and fro most of the day with light loads. The 
great trouble with them has been due to the fatuous conduct 
of the penguins. Groups of these have been constantly 
leaping on to our floe. From the moment of landing on 
their feet their whole attitude expressed devouring curiosity 
and a pig-headed disregard for their own safety. They 
waddle forward, poking their heads to and fro in their 
usually absurd way, in spite of a string of howling dogs 
straining to get at them. ' Hulloa ! ' they seem to say, 
1 here's a game — what do all you ridiculous things want f f 
And they come a few steps nearer. The dogs make a rush 
as far as their leashes or harness allow. The penguins 
