EARLY MORNING 285 



ken, and are just climbing the first ridge. Not far 

 away a big tent rises before us, and in front of it we 

 see two long, dark lines. It is our main depot that we 

 are coming to, and you can see that we keep our things 

 in good order, case upon case, as if they had been placed 

 in position by an expert builder. And they all point 

 the same way; all the numbers face the north. 



1 What made you choose that particular direction? ' 

 is the natural question. ' Had you any special object? ' 



' Oh yes, we had. If you will look towards the east, 

 you will notice that on the horizon the sky has a rather 

 lighter, brighter colour there than in any other part. 

 That is the day as we see it now. At present we can- 

 not see to do anything by its light. It would have been 

 impossible to see that these cases were lying with their 

 numbers to the north if it had not been for the brilliant 

 aurora australis. But that light colour will rise and 

 grow stronger. At nine o'clock it will be in the north- 

 east, and we shall be able to trace it ten degrees above 

 the horizon. You would not then think it gave so 

 much light as it really does, but you would be able 

 without an effort to read the numbers. What is more, 

 you would be able to read the makers' names which are 

 marked on several of the cases, and when the flush of 

 daylight has moved to the north, you will be able to 

 see them even more clearly. No doubt these figures 

 and letters are big about 2 inches high and H inches 

 broad but it shows, nevertheless, that we have day- 



