the Harbour Board received news that
a wooden vessel, barquentine-rigged, with a crow's-nest on the mainmast,
was steaming up the D'Entrecasteaux Channel. This left no doubt as
to her identity and so, later in the day, we joined Mr. Martelli, the
assistant harbour-master, and proceeded down the river, meeting the
'Aurora' below the quarantine ground.

We heard that they had had a very rough passage after leaving the Cape.
This was expected, for several liners, travelling by the same route,
and arriving in Australian waters a few days before, had reported
exceptionally heavy weather.

Before the ship had reached Queen's Wharf, the berth generously provided
by the Harbour Board, the Greenland dogs were transferred to the
quarantine ground, and with them went Dr. Mertz and Lieutenant Ninnis,
who gave up all their time during the stay in Hobart to the care of
those important animals. A feeling of relief spread over the whole
ship's company as the last dog passed over the side, for travelling
with a deck cargo of dogs is not the most enviable thing from a sailor's
point of view. Especially is this the case in a sailing-vessel
where room is limited, and consequently dogs and ropes are mixed
indiscriminately.

Evening was just coming on when we reached the wharf, and, as we ranged
alongside, the Premier, Sir Elliot Lewis, came on board and bade us
welcome to Tasmania.

Captain Davis had much to tell, for more than four months had elapsed
since my departure from London, when he had been left in charge of the
ship and of the final arrangements.

At the docks there had been delays and difficulties in the execution of
the necessary alterations to the ship, in consequence of strikes and the
Coronation festivities. It was so urgent to reach Australia in time for
the ensuing Antarctic summer, that the recaulking of the decks and
other improvements were postponed, to be executed on the voyage or upon
arrival in Australia.

Captain Davis seized the earliest possible opportunity of departure, and
the 'Aurora' dropped down the Thames at midnight on July 27, 1911. As
she threaded her way through the crowded traffic by the dim light of a
thousand flickering flames gleaming through the foggy atmosphere, the
dogs entered a protest peculiar to their "husky" kind. After a short
preliminary excursion through a considerable range of the scale, they
picked up a note apparently suitable to all and settled down to many
hours of incessant an