SOME PERSONAL SKETCHES 433 
a quiet vein of humour and really consummate tact, and 
you have some idea of his values. I think he is the most 
popular member of the party, and that is saying much. 
4 Bowers is all and more than I ever expected of him. 
He is a positive treasure, absolutely trustworthy and 
prodigiously energetic. He is about the hardest man 
amongst us, and that is saying a good deal — nothing seems 
to hurt his tough little body and certainly no hardship 
daunts his spirit. I shall have a hundred little tales to 
tell you of his indefatigable zeal, his unselfishness, and 
his inextinguishable good humour. He surprises always, 
for his intelligence is of quite a high order and his memory 
for details most exceptional. You can imagine him, as 
he is, an indispensable assistant to me in every detail 
concerning the management and organisation of our 
sledging work and a delightful companion on the march. 
' One of the greatest successes is Wright. He is very 
thorough and absolutely ready for anything. Like Bowers 
he has taken to sledging like a duck to water, and although 
he hasn't had such severe testing, I believe he would 
stand it pretty nearly as well. Nothing ever seems to 
worry him, and I can't imagine he ever complained of 
anything in his life. 
1 I don't think I will give such long descriptions of the 
others, though most of them deserve equally high praise. 
Taken all round they are a perfectly excellent lot. 
'The Soldier is very popular with all — a delightfully 
humorous cheery old pessimist— striving with the ponies 
