436 
SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [October 
for the Western Mountains, Victor, with Bowers still 
hanging to him, in an indefinite direction. Running for 
two miles, he eventually rounded up Nobby west of Tent 
Island and brought him in. 20 Half an hour after Wilson's 
return, Bowers came in with Victor distressed, bleeding 
at the nose, from which a considerable fragment hung 
semi-detached. Bowers himself was covered with blood 
and supplied the missing link — the cause of the incident. 
It appears that the ponies were fairly quiet when Victor 
tossed his head and caught his nostril in the trace hook 
on the hame of Snatcher's harness. The hook tore skin 
and flesh and of course the animal got out of hand. Bowers 
hung to him, but couldn't possibly keep hold of the other 
two as well. Victor had bled a good deal, and the blood 
congealing on the detached skin not only gave the wound 
a dismal appearance but greatly increased its irritation. 
I don't know how Bowers managed to hang on to the 
frightened animal; I don't believe anyone else would 
have done so. On the way back the dangling weight on 
the poor creature's nose would get on the swing and 
make him increasingly restive ; it was necessary to stop 
him repeatedly. Since his return the piece of skin has 
been snipped off and proves the wound not so serious as 
it looked. The animal is still trembling, but quite on 
his feed, which is a good sign. I don't know why our 
Sundays should always bring these excitements. 
Two lessons arise. First, however quiet the animals 
appear, they must not be left by their drivers— no chance 
must be taken ; secondly, the hooks on the hames of the 
harness must be altered in shape. 
