38 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. Jux\e 



them. Ayles and I leading, often got in nearly up to 

 our middles, we could not afford to stop hauling, which 

 we continued on hands and knees, until we got on to 

 a firmer footing, or came to a helpless standstill. For 

 us it was bad enough, but when the other three went 

 in, separately or altogether, they had barely time to 

 throw themselves clear of the runners. Made good 

 four and-a-half to five miles. , 



' Adam Ayles has not been very well to-day, the 

 effects of being trodden on by an invalid in getting out 

 of the tent last night. I could ill afford to lose his 

 services. 



' lbth. — Temperature inside the tent 67°. Mann 

 and Stubbs better. After reaching Sail Harbour we got 

 on with but little trouble, being delayed only by the sick 

 lagging behind. Waiting as we had to in a dense fog, 

 and with a cold east wind, was not comfortable after 

 the violent perspiration brought about by our exertions. 

 Halted at six for two hours. Under way at eight to 

 cross Parry Peninsula, but found the hill too steej) for 

 the small amount of strength we could command. The 

 strongest of us carried the gear up, and in one hour 

 had advanced our whole baggage about a quarter of a 

 mile. 



' lQth. — Under way at 2.55 a.m., actually of the 

 17th, and proceeded downhill with standing pulls 

 through deep soft snow. At last we reached the ice 

 in the small indentation on the east side of Parry 

 Peninsula, with very good travelling ; thence up 

 another small rise which we got up a few yards at a 

 time, by constantly waiting for some one or other to 

 recover breath. However, all things come to an end, 



