Page:Scott's Last Expedition, Volume 2.djvu/476

One of the dogs, Vaida, who had been ill since his return, was allowed a certain amount of latitude; he frequently came into the hut and would take up his position there, appreciating the warmth and comfort and strenuously resisting ejection at any time. Altogether he regarded himself as having taken on the duty of a house dog.

On June 1, the ice appearing sound, Demetri and Hooper with a dog team went to Hut Point, doing the journey there and back in the same day. One of the dogs had been lost on our return to Cape Evans; but no trace of this animal was found on arriving there and he was never seen again.

The first week of June proved practically calm and we had our coldest temperatures of the winter.

However, as a little ice remained in the North Bay we were able to get more exercise for men and animals. From the 8th to the 13th we had a most exceptional blizzard, both for the warmth of temperature and the amount of drift. It was quite possible in this blizzard to move a few yards away from the hut and be lost for some considerable time. The ice again blew out and we had a wonderful show of phosphorescence in the sea. Once beneath the ice foot we saw a seal chasing a school of fish, the fish outlined with phosphorescence and the seal with a glowing snout and all his body bright, in hot pursuit.

In the previous season Wright had had great trouble in maintaining an even temperature for his pendulum observations. To overcome this a large hole was cut