136 
THE STRAND MAGAZINE. 
CAPTAIN SCOTT ON SKI. 
could hear the birds squawking, but from which 
they were quite unable to find a way down. 
The poor light was failing, and they returned 
to camp. Starting again on the following 
day, they wound their way through frightful 
ice disturbances under the high basalt cliffs ; 
in places the rock overhung, and at one spot 
they had to creep through a small channel 
hollowed in the ice. At last they reached 
the sea-ice, but now the light was so far spent 
they were obliged to rush everything. Instead 
of the two or three thousand nesting birds 
which had been seen here in Discovery days, 
they could now only count about a hundred. 
They hastily killed and skinned three to get 
blubber for their stove, and, collecting six 
1,1 That night a blizzard commenced, 
increasing in fury from moment to 
moment. They now found that the 
place chosen for the hut for shelter was 
worse than useless. They had far better 
have built it in the 
open, for the fierce 
wind, instead of strik- 
ing them directly, was 
deflected on to them in 
furious whirling gusts. 
Heavy blocks of snow 
and rock placed on the 
roof were whirled away 
and the canvas bal- 
looned up, tearing and 
straining at its secur- 
ings — its disappear- 
ance could only be a 
question of time. They 
had erected their tent 
with some valuables inside close to the hut ; 
it had been well spread; and more than 
amply secured with snow and boulders, but 
one terrific gust tore it up and whirled it 
away. Inside the hut they waited for the 
roof to vanish, wondering what they could do 
if it went, and vainly endeavouring to make 
it secure. After fourteen hours it went, as 
they were trying to pin down one corner. 
The smother of snow was on them, and they 
could only dive for their sleeping-bags with 
a gasp. Bowers put his head out once and 
said, £ We’re all right,’ in as near his ordinary 
tones as he could compass. The others 
replied, ‘ Yes, we’re all right,’ and all was 
silent for a night and half a day whilst the 
eggs, three of which alone survived, they 
dashed for camp. 
It is possible the birds are deserting 
th s rookery, but it is also possible that 
this early date found only a small 
minority of the birds which will be col- 
lected at a later one. The eggs, which 
have not yet been examined, should 
throw light on this point. Wilson ob- 
served yet another proof of the strength 
of the nursing instinct in these birds. In 
searching for eggs, both he and Bowers 
picked up rounded pieces of ice which 
these ridiculous creatures had been 
cherishing with fond hope. 
1 he light had failed entirely by the 
time the party were clear of the pressure 
ridges on their return, and it was only 
by good luck they regained their camp'. 
Nearly Lost in a Blizzard. 
