io6 NEAREST THE POLE 



6th march. He had left Henson the day before, and 

 on the way back met the Doctor and Clark, so that a 

 few moments' conversation with him put me in touch 

 with conditions and the location of everyone ahead 

 of me. He reported the ice in motion everywhere, 

 the floe upon which my advance loads were placed 

 yesterday drifted a mile or more to the southeast, 

 and the trail disrupted for a long distance. I gave 

 him detailed instructions and he disappeared in the 

 rear of my party on his way to Hecla for additional 

 loads. This was a fairly good march though we were 

 steadily drifting eastward. I hoped that with the 

 cessation of the spring tides and the continuance of 

 the bitter cold the ice would become more stable. 



On the loth the ice was more quiet; there was little 

 wind: the day was fine and the going comparatively 

 good. I quote from my Journal: "Things are too 

 favourable. I am oppressed with the fears of open 

 water ahead." 



On the nth I overtook Clark and the Doctor at 

 cache number one, and was able to simplify and assist 

 the work of both in some details. The next two days 

 were a continuance of the fine but bitterly cold weather. 

 The Three- star brandy on my sledge was frozen 

 continuously. On the 15th I overtook Henson and 

 the Doctor with their parties camped together, Henson 

 claiming to be stalled by the weather. I gave him 

 explicit instructions and started him out. I then sent 

 Marvin and his party back to Hecla for additional sup- 

 plies in order to give Henson a start, and utilised my 

 own and Clark's parties in bringing up supplies from 

 cache niimber one, and in pushing loads ahead from this 



