g to meet us they cheered
and greeted us, then hauled our sledges in. It appeared they were unable
to recognise any of us owing to our dirty and dishevelled state. This was
not to be wondered at, for we had not washed nor had we shaved for eighty
days: We all talked hard and exchanged news. Ponting lined us up to be
photographed--the first nine Bolshevists--we looked such awful
blackguards.

Now, April 13, 1911, as communication had been established between Hut
Point and Cape Evans, we settled down for the winter. I shall never
forget the breakfast that Clissold prepared for us at 10.30 that morning.
It was delicious--hot rolls, heaps of butter, milk, sugar, jam, a fine
plate of tomato soup, and fried seal cooked superbly. The meal over, we
shaved, bathed, and put on clean clothes, smoked cigarettes, and took a
day's holiday. At 10 o'clock that evening, by prearrangement, Very's
lights were fired to let them know at Hut Point of our safe arrival. Our
own signal was answered by a flare. Gramophone records were dug out and
we lazily listened to Melba singing and to musical comedy tunes, those
who had energy and sufficient inclination got the pianola going, and
finally each man unfolded his little story to another member of the
Expedition who had taken no part in the sledging.

Captain Scott was delighted at the progress made by those left in our hut
under Dr. Simpson, everything was in order, the scientific programme in
full swing, and nothing in the shape of bad news beyond the loss of an
ill-tempered pony called Hackenschmidt, and one more dog that appeared to
have died from a peculiar disease--a minute thread-worm getting to his
brain, this according to Nelson who had conducted the post-mortem.

CHAPTER VII

ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE WINTER

Less than a fortnight from the day of our return to Cape Evans, on April
23 to be exact, the sun left us to remain below the horizon for four long
weary months. Of course, there was a considerable amount of twilight, and
even on midwinter's day at noon there was some gray light in the north.
Different people took the winter in different fashion, according to their
temperaments. There were some who never could have faced a second winter
with any degree of cheerfulness, but taking it all round, we did well
enough, and when summer came again our concrete keenness and zeal had not
one whit abated. That is especially true in the case of those who were
chosen to make the great