A visit to the Campbell Islands was projected, but abandoned on account
of the ship being unable to lay her course due to strong head winds on
December 1. We therefore shaped to cross the Antarctic Circle in 178
degrees W. and got a good run of nearly 200 miles in, but the wind rose
that afternoon and a gale commenced at a time when we least could afford
to face bad weather in our deeply-laden conditions. By 6 p.m. I had to
heave the ship to under lower topsails and fore topmast staysail. Engines
were kept going at slow speed to keep the ship under control, but when
night fell the prospect was gloomy enough. Captain Scott had consented to
my taking far more on board than the ship was ever meant to carry, and we
could not expect to accomplish our end without running certain risks. To
sacrifice coal meant curtailing the Antarctic cruising programme, but as
the weather grew worse we had to consider throwing coal overboard to
lighten the vessel. Quite apart from this, the huge waves which washed
over the ship swamped everything and increased the deck weights
considerably. Ten tons of coal were thrown over to prevent them from
taking charge and breaking petrol cases adrift. In spite of a liberal use
of oil to keep heavy water from breaking over, the decks were continually
swept by the seas and the rolling was so terrific that the poor dogs were
almost hanging by their chains. Meares and Dimitri, helped by the watch,
tended them unceasingly, but in spite of their combined efforts one dog
was washed overboard after being literally drowned on the upper deck. One
pony died that night, Oates and Atkinson standing by it and trying their
utmost to keep the wretched beast on its feet. A second animal succumbed
later, and poor Oates had a most trying time in caring for his charges
and rendering what help he could to ameliorate their condition. Those of
his ship-mates who saw him in this gale will never forget his strong,
brown face illuminated by a hanging lamp as he stood amongst those
suffering little beasts. He was a fine, powerful man, and on occasions he