I volunteered to go down the stokehold, and my first duty was that of trimming coal. It is a _delightful_ occupation. It consists of going down to the bunkers and shovelling coal to within easy reach of the firemen. The bunkers are pitch black, and the air—well, there is no air, but coal dust. This gets into one’s ears, eyes, nose, mouth and lungs; one breathes coal dust. After I had trimmed sufficient coal, I commenced stoking. I got on fairly well for a first attempt, but did not like the heat. Another entry which this boy made during the bad weather shows what he must have gone through, though nothing which he said at the time would have led one to suspect it: Indeed, I was feeling more dead than alive ... what with the rolling of the ship and the unsteady nature of my limbs—I was sea-sick, and I was much afraid I should fall into the fire or down the bilges. When I came off (my watch) I immediately made for my bunk, where I remained, without partaking of my breakfast or dinner, until 12.0 noon, when I got up again for my next watch.... Before leaving England the Boss had ordered a brass plate to be made, on which was inscribed two verses of Kipling’s immortal “If?” and had it placed in front of the bridge. Hussey, after a heavy day’s coaling in bad weather, was inspired to a version specially applicable to the _Quest_, which reads as follows: If you can stand the _Quest_ and all her antics, If you can go without a drink for weeks, If you can smile a smile and say, “How topping!” When someone splashes paint across your “breeks”; If you can work like Wild and then, like “Wuzzles,” Spend a convivial night with some “old bean,” And then come down and meet the Boss at breakfast And never breathe a word of where you’ve been; If you can keep your feet when all about you Are turning somersaults upon the deck, And then go up aloft when no one told you, And not fall down and break your blooming neck; If you can fill the port and starboard bunkers With fourteen tons of coal and call it fun, Yours is the ship and everything that’s on it, Coz you’re a marvel, not a man, old son.... We arrived at Madeira on the 16th. Kerr had again a number of adjustments to make in the engine-room, and, with Smith, toiled hard all the time we were in harbour. Madeira has been a favourite stopping place for all expeditions to the Antarctic. Here on October 4th, 1822, Weddell was received and assisted by Mr. John Blandy, whose firm has rendered help to many subsequent expeditions. On this occasion we were welcomed by the present Mr. and Mrs. Blandy and visited their beautiful estate on the hill.