3 20 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION tJ"»» 
half-hour has struck the table has been cleared. From 
9.30 to 1.30 the men are steadily employed on a programme 
of preparation for sledging, which seems likely to occupy 
the greater part of the winter. The repair of sleeping-bags 
and the alteration of tents have already been done, but 
there are many other tasks uncompleted or not yet begun, 
such as the manufacture of provision bags, crampons, 
sealskin soles, pony clothes, &c. 
Hooper has another good sweep up the hut after break- 
fast, washes the mess traps, and generally tidies things. 
I think it a good thing that in these matters the officers 
need not wait on themselves ; it gives long unbroken days 
of scientific work and must, therefore, be an economy of 
brain in the long run. 
We meet for our mid-day meal at 1.30 or 1.45, and 
spend a very cheerful half-hour over it. Afterwards the 
ponies are exercised, weather permitting; this employs 
all the men and a few of the officers for an hour or more— 
the rest of us generally take exercise in some form at the 
same time. After this the officers go on steadily with 
their work, whilst the men do odd jobs to while away the 
time. The evening meal, our dinner, comes at 6.30, 
and is finished within the hour. Afterwards people read, 
write, or play games, or occasionally finish some piece of 
work. The gramophone is usually started by some kindly 
disposed person, and on three nights of the week the lec- 
tures to which I have referred are given. These lectures 
still command full audiences and lively discussions. 
At 1 1 p.m. the acetylene lights are put out, and those 
who wish to remain up or to read in bed must depend on 
