Page:Scott's Last Expedition, Volume 2.djvu/600

The ship sailed from Lyttelton on her homeward voyage on March 13, 1913, under the command of Lieutenant Pennell. In the ward room, besides the Captain, were Rennick, Nelson, Lillie, Levick, Anderson, Mr. Williams, and Mr. Cheetham. When Bruce went home by mail steamer with Lady Scott, Nelson volunteered for the position of second mate, and proved himself a most efficient officer. Mr. Gibson Anderson of Christchurch volunteered for the voyage, and was taken on for coal trimming.

The ship had thirteen dogs on board, going home as pets of various members. Davies built platforms for the dogs; these stood about ten inches off the deck and had a ledge three or four inches high, so that in wet weather the animals would be off the decks and in hot weather have air circulating under them, while, when the ship was rolling, they had the ledges to support themselves against. These platforms were a great comfort to them.

It was intended to run down the Great Circle track to 56° South and then east along that parallel. The ship made a good run down to 56° South, but then met easterly winds, fortunately, however, being able to March 23, 1913, 56° 2′ S., 156° 25′ W. pass about fifteen miles north of where the Nimrod group is charted (from information received nearly a hundred years ago), and got two soundings, both over 2000 fathoms. Captain Davis in the Nimrod on her way home in 1909 passed right over the charted position, but weather prevented