So far everything has gone so well with them that my fears of a loss had been lulled in a growing hope that all would be well—­therefore at midnight, when poor ‘Bones’ had continued in pain for twelve hours and showed little sign of improvement, I felt my fleeting sense of security rudely shattered.

It was shortly after midnight when I was told that the animal seemed a little easier.  At 2.30 I was again in the stable and found the improvement had been maintained; the horse still lay on its side with outstretched head, but the spasms had ceased, its eye looked less distressed, and its ears pricked to occasional noises.  As I stood looking it suddenly raised its head and rose without effort to its legs; then in a moment, as though some bad dream had passed, it began to nose at some hay and at its neighbour.  Within three minutes it had drunk a bucket of water and had started to feed.

I went to bed at 3 with much relief.  At noon to-day the immediate cause of the trouble and an indication that there is still risk were disclosed in a small ball of semi-fermented hay covered with mucus and containing tape worms; so far not very serious, but unfortunately attached to this mass was a strip of the lining of the intestine.

Atkinson, from a humanly comparative point of view, does not think this is serious if great care is taken with the food for a week or so, and so one can hope for the best.

Meanwhile we have had much discussion as to the first cause of the difficulty.  The circumstances possibly contributing are as follows:  fermentation of the hay, insufficiency of water, overheated stable, a chill from exercise after the gale—­I think all these may have had a bearing on the case.  It can scarcely be coincidence that the two ponies which have suffered so far are those which are nearest the stove end of the stable.  In future the stove will be used more sparingly, a large ventilating hole is to be made near it and an allowance of water is to be added to the snow hitherto given to the animals.  In the food line we can only exercise such precautions as are possible, but one way or another we ought to be able to prevent any more danger of this description.

Saturday, July 15.—­There was strong wind with snow this morning and the wind remained keen and cold in the afternoon, but to-night it has fallen calm with a promising clear sky outlook.  Have been up the Ramp, clambering about in my sealskin overshoes, which seem extraordinarily satisfactory.

Oates thinks a good few of the ponies have got worms and we are considering means of ridding them.  ‘Bones’ seems to be getting on well, though not yet quite so buckish as he was before his trouble.  A good big ventilator has been fitted in the stable.  It is not easy to get over the alarm of Thursday night—­the situation is altogether too critical.

Sunday, July 16.—­Another slight alarm this morning.  The pony ‘China’ went off his feed at breakfast time and lay down twice.  He was up and well again in half an hour; but what on earth is it that is disturbing these poor beasts?