pee COUNCIL AT CAPE EVANS 213 
clambered over the Tongue, and our luck and the breeze still 
holding, we reached Cape Evans, completing the last seven miles 
all sitting on the sledge in an hour. There I called together all 
the members and explained the situation, telling them what had 
been done and what I then proposed to do, also asking them 
for their advice in this trying time. The opinion was almost 
unanimous that all that was possible had been already done. 
Owing to the lateness of the year and the likelihood of our being 
unable to make our way up the coast to Campbell one or two 
members suggested that another journey might be made to Cor- 
ner Camp. Knowing the conditions which had lately prevailed 
on the Barrier, I took it upon myself to decide the uselessness of 
this. 
April 11 and 12 were spent in preparing gear and securing 
provisions. 
On April 13, about 10.30 in the morning, with Wright, Gran, 
Keohane, Williamson, and Demetri I started back to Hut 
Point. ‘The surface of the sea ice had then completely changed 
and was covered with slush and ice-flowers; a trying blizzard 
started, and after a very hard pull we had to run for shelter to 
the little Razorback Island. We camped there and had tea. 
Soon after, the blizzard abated somewhat and we got under way. 
We made very slow progress, and after a very hard day’s pull 
could only reach the Glacier Tongue, seven miles from home. 
The next morning we awoke, made our way over the Tongue, 
and reaching the cliffs had some difficulty in getting up. The 
sledge was held at arm’s length by four men while one clambered 
up and by the help of his knife eventually gained a sure footing 
and was able to help the others. Except for the steepness of the 
climb, the remainder of the journey to Hut Point was easy. 
There we found Cherry-Garrard greatly relieved at our return, 
as the ice had been blowing out of the Sound, but had luckily 
remained in in the two bays. We reached Hut Point on the 
14th. 
The 15th and 16th were occupied in drying gear and making 
up provisions for four weeks. I decided to take C. S. Wright, 
who was a skilled navigator, Petty Officer Williamson, and 
Keohane. The season was well advanced and a great part of 
the travelling and camping had to be done in the dusk. ; 
On April 17 we started across the sea ice, and after 5 miles 
