The spectators could not see far in the dim
light, but they heard the shouts of the drivers as the teams approached
and greeted the victory of the favourite with a roar of cheering that
must have sounded strange indeed to any seals or penguins that happened
to be in our neighbourhood. Wild's time was 2 min. 16 sec., or at the
rate of 10? miles per hour for the course.
We celebrated Midwinter's Day on the 22nd. The twilight extended over
a period of about six hours that day, and there was a good light at
noon from the moon, and also a northern glow with wisps of beautiful
pink cloud along the horizon. A sounding gave 262 fathoms with a mud
bottom. No land was in sight from the mast-head, although our range of
vision extended probably a full degree to the westward. The day was
observed as a holiday, necessary work only being undertaken, and, after
the best dinner the cook could provide, all hands gathered in the Ritz,
where speeches, songs, and toasts occupied the evening. After supper
at midnight we sang "God Save the King" and wished each other all
success in the days of sunshine and effort that lay ahead. At this
time the 'Endurance' was making an unusually rapid drift to the north
under the influence of a fresh southerly to south-westerly breeze. We
travelled 39 miles to the north in five days before a breeze that only
once attained the force of a gale and then for no more than an hour.
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