126 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [February 



paid down the Alpine rope to see if it was long enough to reach 

 the snow bridge on which they were coiled. The rope is 90 feet, 

 and the amount remaining showed that the depth of the bridge 

 was about 65 feet. I made a bowline and the others lowered 

 me down. The bridge was firm and I got hold of both dogs, 

 which were hauled up in turn to the surface. Then I heard dim 

 shouts and howls above. Some of the rescued animals had 

 wandered to the second sledge, and a big fight was in progress. 

 All my rope-tenders had to leave to separate the combatants; 

 but they soon returned, and with some effort I was hauled to 

 the surface. 



All is well that ends well, and certainly this was a most sur- 

 prisingly happy ending to a very serious episode. We felt we 

 must have refreshment, so camped and had a meal, congratu- 

 lating ourselves on a really miraculous escape. 

 *^j Fee/- If the sledge had gone down Meares and I 



musl have been badly Injured, if not killed out- 

 right. The dogs are wonderful, but have had 

 ^ SNO^ a terrible shaking — three of them are passing 

 BR/DC£ blood and have more or less serious internal 

 injuries. Many were held up by a thin thong 

 round the stomach, writhing madly to get free. 

 One dog better placed in Its harness stretched 

 Its legs full before and behind and just managed to claw either 

 side of the gap — it had continued attempts to climb throughout, 

 giving vent to terrified howls. Two of the animals hanging to- 

 gether had been fighting at Intervals when they swung Into any 

 position which allowed them to bite one another. The crevasse 

 for the time being was an Inferno, and the time must have been 

 all too terribly long for the wretched creatures. It was twenty 

 minutes past three when we had completed the rescue work, and 

 the accident must have happened before one-thirty. Some of the 

 animals must have been dangling for over an hour. I had a 

 good opportunity of examining the crack. 



The section seemed such as I have shown. It narrowed 

 towards the east and widened slightly towards the west. In 

 this direction there were curious curved splinters; below the 

 snow bridge on which I stood the opening continued, but nar- 

 rowing, so that I think one could not have fallen many more 

 feet without being wedged. Twice I have owed safety to a 



