116 AT THE POLE 



there was thus about 220 pounds in the depot. The 

 snow here was ill-adapted for building, but we put up 

 quite a respectable monument all the same. It was 

 dogs' pemmican and biscuits that were left behind; we 

 carried with us on the sledges provisions for about a 

 month. If, therefore, contrary to expectation, we should 

 be so unlucky as to miss this depot, we should never- 

 theless be fairly sure of reaching our depot in 86° 21' 

 before supplies ran short. The cross-marking of the 

 depot was done with sixty splinters of black packing 

 case on each side, with 100 paces between each. Every 

 other one had a shred of black cloth on the top. The 

 splinters on the east side were all marked, so that on 

 seeing them we should know instantly that we were to 

 the east of the depot. Those on the west had no marks. 

 The warmth of the past few days seemed to have 

 matured our frost-sores, and we presented an awful 

 appearance. It was Wisting, Hanssen, and I who had 

 suffered the worst damage in the last south-east blizzard; 

 the left side of our faces was one mass of sore, bathed in 

 matter and serum. We looked like the worst type of 

 tramps and ruffians, and would probably not have been 

 recognized by our nearest relations. These sores were 

 a great trouble to us during the latter part of the journey. 

 The slightest gust of wind produced a sensation as if 

 one's face were being cut backwards and forwards with 

 a blunt knife. They lasted a long time, too; I can 

 remember Hanssen removing the last scab when we 



