260 THE EASTERN SLEDGE JOURNEY 



a day of real sunshine. All our discomforts were 

 forgotten ; everything went easily again. In the course 

 of nine hours we covered twenty-six geographical miles 

 that day, without any great strain on either dogs or 

 men. 



At our midday rest we found ourselves abreast of the 

 bay, where, on the outward journey, we had laid down 

 our depot of seals' flesh. I had intended to turn aside 

 to the depot and replenish our supply of meat as a pre- 

 caution, but Johansen suggested leaving out this detour 

 and going straight on. We might thereby run the risk 

 of having to go on short rations ; but Johansen thought 

 it a greater risk to cross the treacherous ground about 

 the bay, and, after some deliberation, I saw he was 

 right. It was better to go on while we were about it. 



From this time on we met with no difficulty, and 

 rapidly drew near to our destination in regular daily 

 marches of twenty geographical miles. After men and 

 dogs had received their daily ration on the evening 

 of the 15th, our sledge cases were practically empty; 

 but, according to our last position, we should not have 

 more than twenty geographical miles more to Framheim. 



Saturday, December 16. — We broke camp at the 

 usual time, in overcast but perfectly clear weather, and 

 began what was to be our last day's march on this trip. 

 A dark water-sky hung over the Barrier on the west 

 and north-west, showing that there was open sea off the 

 mouth of the Bay of Whales. We went on till 10.30, 



