360 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [August 
The ponies are getting buckish. Chinaman squeals 
and kicks in the stable, Nobby kicks without squealing, 
but with even more purpose — last night he knocked down 
a part of his stall. The noise of these animals is rather 
trying at night — one imagines all sorts of dreadful things 
happening, but when the watchman visits the stables its 
occupants blink at him with a sleepy air as though the 
disturbance could not possibly have been there ! 
There was a glorious northern sky to-day ; the horizon 
was clear and the flood of red light illuminated the under 
side of the broken stratus cloud above, producing very 
beautiful bands of violet light. Simpson predicts a blizzard 
within twenty-four hours — we are interested to watch 
results. 
Tuesday, August I. — The month has opened with a 
very beautiful day. This morning I took a circuitous 
walk over our land 4 estate,' winding to and fro in gulleys 
filled with smooth ice patches or loose sandy soil, with a 
twofold object. I thought I might find the remains of 
poor Julick — in this I was unsuccessful ; but I wished 
further to test our new crampons, and with these I am 
immensely pleased — they possess every virtue in a foot- 
wear designed for marching over smooth ice — lightness, 
warmth, comfort, and ease in the putting on and off. 
The light was especially good to-day ; the sun was 
directly reflected by a single twisted iridescent cloud in 
the north, a brilliant and most beautiful object. The air 
was still, and it was very pleasant to hear the crisp sounds 
of our workers abroad. The tones of voices, the swish of 
ski, or the chipping of an ice pick carry two or three miles 
