1902] THE SLEDGE PARTY'S STORY 175 



disappeared, and a few minutes afterwards Evans went. Mr. 

 Barne and Quartley had left them to try to find out what had 

 become of Evans, and neither had come back, though they 

 waited. Afterwards they had gone on, and then suddenly 

 found themselves at the edge of a precipice with the sea 

 below ; Vince had shot past him over the edge. After much 

 trouble they had climbed back, reached some rocks, and 

 groped their way to the ship ; he feared all the others must 

 be lost ; he was sure Vince had gone. Could he guide a 

 search party to the scene of the accident? He thought he 

 could — at any rate, he would like to try. 



The information was little enough ; at any rate, it was 

 something on which to act, and the details could be filled in 

 later. But meanwhile the practical common sense on board 

 had outstripped orders, and already warmer clothing and wind 

 coverings were being hurried on by all, and a sledge with a fur 

 sleeping-bag and medical comforts had been equipped. But 

 the ship could not be deserted even for such an errand as this, 

 and when Mr. Armitage had chosen four officers and ten men 

 to accompany him, it was felt that numbers had already reached 

 the limit of usefulness, and that others like myself must wait 

 in dreary inaction whilst the few laboured. Though the first 

 disastrous tidings had been brought to us at 8.30, it was still 

 before nine when the relieving party tumbled over the side 

 and vanished into the gloom. 



It will be as well to relate now the* actual story of the 

 original sledge party, as we learnt it in after-times, and to 

 trace the steps which had led to the accident. 



The party, after crossing the hills on March 4 on their 

 outward journey, had descended to the level ice and directed 

 their course into the deep bay which lies on the eastern side 

 of our peninsula and south of Erebus and Terror. After 

 crossing some ice-ridges they found fairly easy travelling for 

 ten miles or more, but then came to very soft snow, where at 

 each footstep they sank to a depth of eighteen inches or two 

 feet. The labour was excessive, [and; the dogs were of no 

 assistance, but they struggled on in hopes of coming to better 



