Page:Scott's Last Expedition, Volume 2.djvu/44

sky. Curtain form in interwoven arcs, curtains being propelled along as if by wind; the whole finally forming a vast mushroom overhead and moving towards the S.E. Colours, lemon yellow, green and orange.'

It was such a striking display that we all three halted and lay on our backs for a long time watching its evolutions.

Our sleeping-bags are beginning to show the effect of these low temperatures notwithstanding every care to keep them and our clothing dry. We left Cape Evans with three reindeer-skin bags for use to begin with, and a down bag each as a reserve lining. Cherry's fur bag was a very large one, much too large for warmth at these temperatures. My own was a good fit for warmth, but became so small when wet and frozen up that it broke in every direction. Bowers' bag was the right size for him, but also broke in more than one place later on when wet and frozen. All were as good as could be wished as regards the skins. Cherry has been so cold in his large bag with the hair inside that to-day he has turned it to hair outside, and bent his down bag as a lining to decrease the space.

Bowers' bag, begun with hair outside, is still so in use. My own, begun with hair inside, is still so in use. All are already rather wet and stiff when frozen, but we sleep in them well enough, and have no difficulty in rolling them up and unrolling them at night. [Bill having cold bad nights—feels it a bit I think—I have been half falling asleep at halts, Birdie ditto—surface a little better—foreshortening the mountains. Clothes for day have