I902] DIFFICULT TRAVELLING 389 



had to be helped up the stiff bits, and when the sledge 

 came skidding down the descents they almost howled with 

 terror. The wind has increased to half a gale from the 

 S.S.W., but it is astonishingly warm ; the temperature has risen 

 above zero, so we have built a good snow-wall to protect our 

 tents. 



* September 28. — Awoke to find a gale with heavy drift, but 

 our tent very snug and comfortable. The temperature has 

 gone up to 4-7°, and our sleeping-bags are pleasantly warm 

 and comfortable. The most extraordinary thing is that in 

 spite of the flying snow outside our things are actually drying, 

 and for the first time in our experience we find ourselves in 

 a weather-bound camp becoming drier instead of wetter. Not 

 being at all cold, we find time to be bored, and, by ill-luck, 

 no one thought of bringing a book or a pack of cards ; but 

 who could suppose that it would be possible to use them 

 during a spring journey? We could really get on now but 

 for the light, but that is so bad that to move over this rough 

 country would be a great risk. 



' September 29. — Wind dropped in night, and was succeeded 

 by flat calm with rapidly falling temperature. We were away 

 by 7 A.M., but shortly after a fresh bank of cloud came up 

 from the south, with more wind and drift. We were all too 

 impatient to stop again, so pushed on, myself leading, with 

 orders to the two teams to follow rigidly in my wake, in spite 

 of any turns and twists I might make. 



'Notwithstanding the bad light I could see the bridged 

 crevasses where they ran across the bare ice surface by slight 

 differences in shade, and where they dived into the valleys, 

 though I could not see them, I found that the bridges were 

 strong enough to bear. I stuck as much as possible to the 

 snowy patches, but this necessitated a very irregular course, 

 and the dogs invariably tried to cut corners. In this manner 

 we proceeded for some time, but suddenly I heard a shout 

 behind, and, looking round, to my horror saw that the boat- 

 swain had disappeared; there stood the dog-team and sledges, 

 but no leader. I hurried back and saw that the trace 



