187G ALDRTCH'S RETURN JOURNEY. 55 



while lie and I dragged the sledge and tramped down 

 a road. Halted, unpacked, and back for the remainder 

 of the gear, which came up slowly but surely. After 

 lunch, started with whole load, snow a little crisper. 

 Got along tolerably for half an hour, then came to a 

 dead stop. Canted sledge on to the medical box, and 

 scraped the runners, which in some places had as much 

 as three inches' thickness of ice on them underneath, 

 which assisted in enlarging the tremendous cakes of 

 snow the sledge forced before it. A second time we 

 did this, and at the end of an hour we had advanced 

 just ten yards. However, we got on much better after- 

 wards. 



' 9th. — I ought to put Stubbs on the sledge, the 

 Sergeant ought to be put there too, but there is not 

 strength enough left to drag them. Came across 

 numerous deep places, which cost us much trouble to 

 get through. I found it a good thing dragging the 

 sledge over the shovel occasionally. Pitched tent for 

 lunch. Stubbs is perfectly easy, so he says, though I 

 daresay he does not feel as well as he wishes to make 

 out, as he puts a very good face on things in general. 

 After lunch, the Sergeant and Mann both gave in, 

 leaving five of us on the drag-ropes, Ayles and I 

 becoming permanent leading men. Did a very good 

 afternoon's work, considering all things. Temperature 

 down to plus 27°. We had the tent pitched by the 

 time the sick came up. Gums very tender, which 

 prevents the allowance of biscuit being eaten. It 

 will be observed, that it is the bluejackets who hang 

 out — the marine, shipwright, and blacksmith being 

 disabled. 



i) ; J 



