187G ALDRTCH'S TIETURN JOURNEY. 45 



day, when the snow became soft and the sledge very 

 dead in her movements. It is thawing fast in the sun, 



but we did not pass through much sludge. 



' Ayles has shown his first sign of weakness of limb 

 to-day ; strength of will remains as before. His 

 knee is rather swollen and stiff; he says he hit it 

 against a hummock, but it is the increased pace at 

 which we come. I know it taxes me to the utmost to 

 haul with the men we now have. Made good nine 

 miles. 



« 23rd. — Arrived at Cape Bichardson, and were 

 welcomed by Lieutenant Parr and Captain Feilden to 

 their tent ; they cooked for us, and gave us what we 

 had not tasted for many long days — hare and geese. 

 We all ate heartily of this fare, which, with the port 

 wine, made the invalids different men. 



' The travelling has been heavy, " One, two, three 

 haul ! " pretty constantly, and snow soft and sludgy, 

 above the knee in places. Temperature 35°. Made 

 good seven miles. 



< 24:th. — Lunched off north end of Simmonds' Island 

 at eight. After lunch inarched for the boats, which 

 we reached after four hours' very hard travelling, 

 through sludge and pools in places. The dogs and 

 Self had a very hard day, and the last of the invalids 

 did not reach the tent till two hours after us. No 

 fainting to-day, but the Sergeant is very, very weak 

 indeed, and there is no visible improvement in the 

 others. Ayles is better, but evidently touched with 

 the malady. The travelling is beginning to get very 

 bad, as we come to many places where the snow 

 looks sound enough, but in which we sink down till 



