SEVERE COLD 231 



high bamboo poles carrying black flags. We used 

 twenty of these ten on each side of the depot. Between 

 each two flags there was a distance of 984 yards (900 

 metres), so that the distance marked on each side of the 

 depot was five and a half miles (nine kilometres) . Each 

 bamboo was marked with a number, so that we should 

 always be able to tell from this number on which side 

 the depot lay, and how far off. This method was 

 entirely new and untried, but proved afterwards to 

 work with absolute certainty. Our compasses and 

 sledge-meters had, of course, been carefully adjusted at 

 the station, and we knew that we could rely on them. 



Having put this in order, we continued our journey 

 on the following day. The temperature fell steadily as 

 we went inland; if it continued in this way it would be 

 cold before one got to the Pole. The surface remained 

 as before flat and even. We ourselves had a feeling 

 that we were ascending, but, as the future will show, 

 this was only imagination. We had had no trouble 

 with fissures, and it almost looked as if we should avoid 

 them altogether, since, of course, it might be supposed 

 that the part of the Barrier nearest the edge would be 

 the most fissured, and we had already left that behind 

 us. South of 80 we found the going easier, but the 

 dogs were now beginning to be stiff and sore-footed, 

 and it was hard work to get them started in the morn- 

 ing. The sore feet I am speaking of here are not nearly 

 so bad as those the dogs are liable to on the sea-ice of 



