Ninnis made a gallant attempt to rescue
two dogs, Basilisk and Franklin, which had remained at Aladdin's Cave on
September 26, after accompanying them there with a load of provisions.
At the Hut there was no drift, but during the ascent it became thicker,
and the wind stronger, forcing them at last to turn back.

Two days later another attempt was made by Ninnis and Mertz, and, in
dense drift, after wandering about for a long time they happened on the
Cave, to find that the dogs were not there, though spots were discovered
where they had evidently been sleeping in the snow. Coming back
disconsolately, they found that the dogs had reached the Hut not long
before them. Apparently the two vagrants, hearing Ninnis and Mertz
blundering about in the drift in search of the depot, had decided
that it was time to return home. We concluded that the ways of these
Greenland dogs were past finding out.

October came with a deluge of snow and transient hours of bright
sunlight, during which the seals would make a temporary landing and
retire again to the water when their endurance was exhausted. Snow
petrels flew in great numbers about the rocks in the evening, seeking
out their old nest-crevices. Seeing these signs of returning life, every
one was in great expectation of the arrival of the penguins.

On the night of the 11th, Hurley, Laseron, Hunter and Correll made an
innovation by presenting a small farce to an audience which had been
starved of dramatic entertainment for a long time, and consequently
showed tremendous appreciation.

The first penguin came waddling up the ice-foot against a seventy-mile
wind late on the afternoon of October 12. McLean brought the bird back
to the Hut and the newcomer received a great ovation. Stimulated by
their success on the previous night and the appearance of the first
penguin, the theatrical company added to their number, and, dispensing
with a rehearsal, produced an opera, "The Washerwoman's Secret"
(Laseron). Part of the Hut was curtained off as a combined green-room
and dressing-room; the kitchen was the stage; footlights twinkled on the
floor; the acetylene limelight beamed down from the rafters, while the
audience crowded on a form behind the dining-table, making tactless
remarks and steadily eating chocolate.

The typed programmes advertised the following:

THE WASHERWOMAN'S SECRET

(Opera in Five Acts)

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

DR. STAKANHOISER (Tenor) "Hoyle"