Page:Scott's Last Expedition, Volume 2.djvu/530

active crater and no photographs were possible. The only effect the height had on us as yet was to cause sleeplessness and a slight shortness of breath, but we were already beginning to experience some discomfort from the low temperatures, and the whole time we remained at or above this elevation the mercury remained obstinately below −10° F., and at one time registered −30° F.

The 11th saw us still shrouded in cloud and, except for a short walk in the immediate neighbourhood of the camp, we got nothing done; but Gran woke me at 1 o'clock in the morning of the 12th, to find the weather so magnificent that I roused all hands at once and we got breakfast, deciding to take time by the forelock and not risk a change of weather.

The only drawback to the morning was a low temperature, −15° F. to −18° F., and a cold southerly wind which gave us a good deal of trouble, as the high altitude very much decreased our chances of resisting frostbite. From the scenic point of view the volcano could not have been better, for it was very active, and the steam cloud was being carried steadily northward by the breeze. As we approached the active crater we secured photograph after photograph, and I also took several looking back at our camp and the old crater in the background, and at Mount Terror and Mount Bird. A good description of these two upper craters has already been given by Professor David, and repetition would be unnecessary and useless. The principal impression they have left on our minds is that of absolute bareness and desolation.

As our altitude increased we were more and more