And so the closing stage of the memorable voyage approached. Long before there was even the remotest hope of our sighting England we commenced our packing, three parts of which had to be promptly unpacked; and then we painted the weird assortment of boxes which contained our accumulated possessions, and hoped they would look a little less disreputable than they actually did. Late on the evening of September 15 we crept into Plymouth Sound and dropped our anchor—an anxious anchor that had repeatedly tried to break loose from its moorings on the homeward trip—in Cawsand Bay. We were home—home from the great adventure!
On September 17, the anniversary of the day on which she had left St. Katharine’s Dock a year before, the Quest was finally berthed and our work was done. Here in her resting-place I said farewell to the many staunch friends I had made and to the stout, plucky, wonderful ship that I had grown to look upon as a second home.
And now I can hardly believe that it was all true. Yet it was true—gloriously so. I, too, have seen and known and learnt; I, too, have companioned with the great souls who help to make our island history. Sir Ernest Shackleton, Commander Frank Wild and the others, all great of heart and fearless of soul, had been my shipmates and my friends.
It was a memorable year indeed, and for all time I know I must carry with me a vision of tumbling waves by day and phosphorescent breakers in the darkness; the grind and bellow of the closing pack, the rush and roar of broken waters at the growlers’ feet; the hushed noises of the seals as they come to the surface in the still water of the pack; and always shall I see in mind’s-eye the glory of the Antarctic night.
And most poignant yet inspiring of all my memories there is that of the lonely cross outlined against the whirling drive of the South Georgian sleet, the sign which remains to tell of the great spirit that led us forth into the Frozen South and died, yet lives again, as a magnet to draw the brave away from the sleek comforts of life into that outer world of daring where men may gaze in awe upon the wonders of the Lord.
INDEX
- Adelie penguin, a solitary, [160]
- Albacore, a shoal of, [55]
- Albatrosses, fishing for, [183], [191]
- Antarctic Circle, weather in the, [139]
- Antarctic exploration, Commander Wild on, [172]
- Argles, Mr., [155], [156], [157], [190]
- Ascension Island, [231]
- intense heat of, [231] et seq.
- Aurora Australis, a glimpse of the, [158]
- Bergs (see [Icebergs])
- Billiards at Gritviken, [194]
- Binney, Mr., and his dog, [194]
- Bird-covered bergs, [118], [119]
- Bird Island, [191]
- Bird-shooting, [207], [210]
- Biscuit-pie, recipe for, [221]
- Bonnivale, a week-end at, [227]
- Bull-fight, a Portuguese, [34]
- Bull-fights, Spanish, [37]
- Bullock-cars, [42]
- Burlings reef, [29]
- Butterfly-hunting at St. Vincent, [52]
- Campbell, Captain Gordon, war work of, [14]
- Cape Saunders, a survey of, [188]
- Cape Town, welcome at, [227]
- Cape Valentine, [174]
- Cape Verde Islands, impressions of, [49], [51]
- Carl (whaler), [108]
- Carr, Major, accident to, [82]
- Christmas in Southern Seas, [82] et seq.
- Clerk Rocks, volcanic eruptions on, [116]
- Coal-sifting, [59]
- Coal-trimming, [15], [18], [47], [79], [155]
- Coaling at Port Olaf Harbour, [190]
- Cod-fishing in South Georgia, [188]
- Compass adjustment, experiences of, [11], [15]
- Cook, Captain, discovers South Georgia, [97]
- Cornwallis Island, [175]
- Crabs on St. Paul’s Rocks, [62], [64]
- Cronk, Mr., and his farm at Ascension Island, [234]
- Cumberland Bay, [196]
- Deer-hunting in South Georgia, [109]
- Dell, Mr., as coal-trimmer, [155]
- Divers, light-fingered, [50]
- Donkey riding at St Vincent, [51], [52]
- Douglas, Mr., [206], [208], [215]
- and a defective harpoon, [143]
- and Sir E. Shackleton’s grave, [194]
- as footballer, [169]
- buys lace at St. Helena, [229]
- geological researches of, [44], [52], [233]
- rejoins Quest, [109]
- replaces Quest’s cook in the galley, [45]
- scientific observations in South Georgia, [77]
- surveys St. Paul’s Rocks, [62], [64]
- Eastern Telegraph Company, cable station on Ascension Island, [231]
- Edinburgh, Tristan da Cunha, [212]
- Elephant Island, in sight, [174]
- Endurance expedition, [171], [174], [175]
- Eriksen, Mr., [62]
- Expedition Topics and its editor, 123, [126]
- Falmouth Bay, Tristan da Cunha, [210]
- Firemen (ship’s), and their duties, [15]
- Fishing in South Georgia, [188], [191], [193]
- Flensing, [99], [177], [188]
- Floating ice, risk of navigation amongst, [120]
- Flying-fish, [63], [230]
- Football on the ice, [166], [168], [170]
- Funchal, bullock-cars of, [42]
- steep streets of, [43]
- Gales in Southern Seas, [88] et seq., [127], [130], [151], [157], [164], [173]
- Glacier ice, dangers of, [177]
- Glass, John, agility of, [207]
- welcomes Quest holiday-makers, [212]
- Glass, John, first settler at Tristan da Cunha, [203]
- “God-be-thanked Well,” Ascension Island, [233], [234]
- Gough Island, [214]
- Green (cook of Quest), [31], [86], [91], [128]
- Green, Henry, a Tristan da Cunha inhabitant, [204]
- Gritviken, harbour of, [98]
- “Growlers,” definition of, [96]
- “Gubbins Alley,” why so called, [198]
- Gulls, Skua, [113]
- Gymnastics extraordinary, [111]
- Hansen, Mr., manager of whaling station at Leith, [110], [111], [186]
- Horn sailing-ship, a famous, [60]
- Housing problem, the, how solved at Tristan da Cunha, [203]
- Hussey, Captain, [62], [64], [83], [102]
- Ice and wind, a rough time with, [177] et seq.
- Ice, football on the, [166], [168], [170]
- Icebergs, [117]
- “Ice-blink,” [96]
- Ice-water, and how obtained, [147], [154]
- Inaccessible Island, [199]
- a landing on, [209]
- Jamestown, [229]
- Jeffrey, Mr., [62], [124], [152]
- Kelvin sounder, the, [113], [114], [183]
- Kerr, Mr., engineer, [143]
- Killer whales, [133], [135], [165]
- Kipling, Rudyard, his understanding of the sea, [71], [82], [122]
- Lace-buying at St. Helena, [229]
- La France becalmed, [60]
- wrecked off New Caledonia, [61]
- Land-crabs, [235]
- Larsen Harbour, and its cliffs, [115]
- Leith Harbour, South Georgia, [186], [187], [193]
- Lifeboats, daily overhaul of, [126]
- Lisbon, a remarkable cinema exhibition in, [32]
- Locomotion, primitive, [204]
- London’s farewell to Quest, [6]
- Lysaght, Mr., a farewell dinner to, [50]
- Macklin, Dr., [62], [178], [179]
- Macleod, [131], [156]
- Madeira, first sight of, [40]
- Mailbags delivered at Tristan da Cunha, [201]
- Mal de mer, and its terrors, [19] et seq., [39], [173]
- Marr, Scout, alone on Gough Island, [220]
- as butcher, [134]
- as helmsman in a gale, [88]
- as lamp-trimmer: Sir E. Shackleton’s hints, [25]
- Christmas Day on Quest, [84]
- experiences miseries of mal de mer, [19] et seq., [39], [173]
- first day among pack-ice, [133]
- first meeting with Shackleton, [2]
- football on the ice, [163], [169], [170]
- fraternizes with Lisbon Scouts, [38]
- his wages increased, [49]
- joins Quest, [4]
- meets brother Scouts at Plymouth, [14]
- on the sick list, [150]
- presents Sir R. Baden Powell’s flag to Tristan Scouts, [205]
- reaches home, [239]
- selected for Quest expedition, [1]
- Shackleton and, [55], [56], [66], [97]
- sight-seeing in Madeira and St. Vincent, [42], [51]
- Mason, a martyr to seasickness, [39], [40]
- leaves Quest, [41]
- McIlroy, Dr., a game of billiards at Gritviken, [194]
- and Shackleton’s cairn 195
- tends Worsley, [124]
- Meteorological experiments, and how conducted, [66]
- Mice-hunting on Gough Island, [218]
- Middle Island, [208]
- Mirages, Antarctic, [162], [163], [174], [181]
- Monte Video, Shackleton’s body taken to, [105], [180]
- Moon-blindness, [57]
- Mooney, Scout Norman E., his duties, [10]
- Motor rides in Lisbon, [33]
- Mountaineering on Inaccessible Island, [210]
- Naisbitt (cook’s mate), edits Expedition Topics, [123]
- Napoleon I at St. Helena, [229], [230]
- Nautilus, first sight of a, [80]
- Navigation among floating ice, dangers of, [120]
- Neko enters Leith Harbour, [189]
- Nelson, Admiral, his tendency to seasickness, [20]
- New Year’s Day (1922), [94]
- Nightingale Island, [206]
- Octopus, a baby, [211]
- Oil on troubled waters, [91]
- Oompah (see [Young])
- Pack-ice, [153]
- Pagoda Rock, [125]
- Pancake ice, [110]
- Parcels, unaddressed, [213]
- Parr, Mr., addresses Scout officers, [14]
- “Peggying,” definition of, [111]
- in a gale, [130]
- Penguin, a, witnesses football on the ice, [166]
- Penguin-chasing and its humour, [163]
- Penguin hunting in South Georgia, [114]
- Penguins, [95], [163]
- and how they resented rocket-fire, [119]
- Perth at Stromness, [189], [190]
- Petrels, photographing, [113]
- Phosphorescent fish, [226]
- Pig, a, Query and, [196]
- Pilots, Portuguese, [30]
- Plymouth welcomes the Quest, [14], [15]
- Plymouth Sound, Quest anchors in, on her return home, [239]
- Polar exploration ships, accommodation on, [4]
- Porpoise, a shoal of, [58]
- Portugal, first sight of, [29]
- Portuguese bull-fight, a, [34]
- “Portuguese man-o’-war,” a, [80]
- Portuguese Sunday, a, [230]
- Prince Olaf Harbour, [190], [192], [193]
- Professor Gruvel, Sir E. Shackleton’s body conveyed on, [105]
- Pumping, the rigours of, [122], [145]
- Query (wolf-hound puppy), and a killer whale, [161]
- Quest, a blaze aboard, and its cause, [143]
- a description of, [12]
- a nigger volunteer for, [101]
- a rough time with ice and wind, [177] et seq.
- alfresco meals on, [46]
- amongst floating ice, [120]
- anchors in Funchal Harbour, [41]
- arrives home, [239]
- en route for Cape Verde, [44]
- engine trouble, [28], [40], [47], [55], [71], [79], [92]
- first impressions of, [3], [4]
- hemmed in by ice, [134], [141], [165]
- her wireless installations, [13]
- leaves Lisbon, [39]
- London’s good-bye to, [6] et seq.
- makes for Elephant Island, [171]
- narrow escapes of, [120], [121]
- Plymouth’s welcome to, [14]
- runs into ice, [95] et seq.
- Sir E. Shackleton’s cabin, [48]
- top speed of, [22]
- Revolutions, and how fostered, [68]
- Rigg, Mr., entertains crew of Quest, [227]
- Rio de Janeiro, [67]
- “Rio Doctor,” the, [74]
- Rogers, Rev Martyn, and his wireless station, [211]
- and the Scout movement, [205]
- Ross (stoker), [169]
- Rowett, John Quiller, a dinner to officers and crew of Quest, [15]
- Royal Bay, [196]
- Saddle-soreness, an experience of, [230]
- Sailing-ships, mysteries of, [19]
- St. Helena, [228]
- St. Paul’s Rocks, a call at, [61]
- St Vincent, and its harbour, [50]
- Quest at, [238]
- San Miguel, [238]
- Scouts, a troop at Tristan da Cunha, [205]
- Scurvy, and how it is encouraged, [137]
- Sea-birds of St. Paul’s Rocks, [63]
- Sea-elephants, a school of, [112]
- Sea-leopard, a discreet, [145]
- Sea-leopards, pugnacity of, [176]
- Seasickness, reflections on, and remedies for, [19]
- Seal-hunting, [153]
- Seal-shooting, [134]
- Seals, schools of, [112], [136]
- Shackleton, Lady, her wishes as to funeral of her husband, [105], [186], [187]
- Shackleton, Sir Ernest, a dictum of, [156]
- a motto of, [45]
- a pen-picture of, [2]
- and author, [55], [56], [66], [97]
- death of, [102]
- his cabin on Quest, [48]
- his makeshift berth, [93]
- his thought for his men, [77], [94]
- hints on common-sense sailorizing by, [25], [26]
- inspects candidates for Quest adventure, [1]
- last resting-place of, [186], [194], [195]
- sudden indisposition of, [75]
- talks of a previous expedition, [97], [98]
- Shark-fishing, [208]
- Sheerness, Quest at, [9]
- Shetlanders as barbers, [111]
- Ships, essential discipline of, [7] et seq.
- Simon’s Town, Quest at, [227]
- Skua gulls as food, [115]
- Sleep as recreation, [23]
- Smithers, Mrs. A. H., hospitality of, [227]
- Snow petrels, [155]
- Sounding under difficulties, [183], [184]
- Soundings, fruitless, [121], [122], [125]
- South American ports, rules as to entry and leaving, [67]
- South Georgia, discovery of, [97]
- South Sandwich Islands, [118] et seq.
- Southern Isles, [190]
- Spanish bull-fights, [37]
- Stars of tropical skies, [46]
- Stenhouse, Mr., his farewell to Quest, [16]
- Steering, reflections on, [21]
- Stoker, first experiences as, [15]
- Stores, shifting, [7]
- Stream-ice encountered, [131]
- Stromness whaling station, [189]
- Sugar-cane groves in Madeira, [42]
- Sugar Loaf, the, [67]
- ascent of, [73]
- Table Bay, Quest at, [226]
- Tobacco-pipe, an unusual, [220]
- Tree parasites, [217]
- Tristan da Cunha, a spell on, [198] et seq.
- Turtleopolis (see [Ascension Island])
- Tussock grass, rank growth of, [207], [210]
- Vao d’Assucar (see [Sugar Loaf])
- Volcanic islands, [119], [120]
- Water, fresh, need for conserving, [57], [87]
- Waterfalls, [210], [214]
- Water-sky, a, and its cause, [139]
- Watts (of Quest), and a wireless aerial, [211]
- plays football on the ice, [169]
- Wearing a ship, method of, [148]
- Weddell Sea ice, [163]
- Western Telegraph Company as hosts, [43], [53]
- Whalers and whaling, past and present, [99] et seq.
- Whales, a school of, [153]
- Whaling stations, [98], [188] et seq.
- Wideawake Valley, Ascension Island, [232]
- Wild, Frank (Commander), an attack of influenza, [227]
- and a runaway boat, [124]
- averts a disaster to Quest, [120]
- birthday celebrations, [190]
- contracts a chill, [178]
- imparts news of death of Sir E. Shackleton, [102]
- on Antarctic exploration, [172]
- plays football on the ice, [169]
- seal-shooting by, [134]
- seamanship of, [125]
- shoots a porpoise, [59]
- takes command of Quest, [103], [106] et seq.
- Wilkins, Mr., a narrow escape from death, [180]
- Wilson’s Island, [74]
- Wireless in Tristan da Cunha, [211]
- Woodville at Stromness, [189], [190]
- Worsley, Captain, accident to, [124]
- “Young ice,” [110]
- Young, stoker of Quest (“Oompah”), [169], [190], [211]
- Zavodovski, island of, [118]
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