No ordinary cat, Mrs. Chippy worked with his human companion, Harry "Chippy" McNeish, the ship's carpenter, on many projects, from mending equipment to building a new ship. But his duties went much further. As he reveals in this honestly crafted diary, Mrs. Chippy's larger role was crucial: pacing the decks to watch for changes in the weather, tormenting the sled dogs, and patroling the canteen for stray mice. The days were long, but Mrs. Chippy held the ship together. Though not everyone appreciated his hard work, he was kind enough not to flaunt his mental superiority over his well-meaning human shipmates.