I9II1 LOST ON THE FLOE 235 



to see the twinkling light of some worker at a water hole or 

 hear the ring of distant voices or swish of ski. 



Tuesday, July 4. — A day of blizzard and adventure. 



The wind arose last night, and although the temperature ad- 

 vanced a few degrees it remained at a very low point considering 

 the strength of the wind. 



This forenoon it was blowing 40 to 45 m.p.h. with a tem- 

 perature — 25° to — 28°. No weather to be in the open. 



In the afternoon the wind modified slightly. Taylor and 

 Atkinson went up to the Ramp thermometer screen. After this, 

 entirely without my knowledge, two adventurous spirits, Atkinson 

 and Gran, decided to start oft over the floe, making respectively 

 for the north and south Bay thermometers, ' Archibald ' and 

 ' Clarence.' This was at 5.30; Gran was back by dinner at 

 6.45, and it was only later that I learned that he had gone no 

 more than 200 or 300 yards from the land and that it had 

 taken him nearly an hour to get back again. 



Atkinson's continued absence passed unnoticed until dinner 

 was nearly over at 7.15, although I had heard that the wind 

 had dropped at the beginning of dinner and that it remained 

 very thick all round, with light snow falling. 



Although I felt somewhat annoyed, I had no serious anxiety 

 at this time, and as several members came out of the hut I 

 despatched them short distances to shout and show lanterns and 

 arranged to have a paraffin flare lit on Wind Vane Hill. 



Evans, P.O., Crean and Keohane, being anxious for a walk, 

 were sent to the north with a lantern. Whilst this desultory 

 search proceeded the wind sprang up again from the south, but 

 with no great force, and meanwhile the sky showed signs of 

 clearing and the moon appeared dimly through the drifting 

 clouds. With such a guide we momentarily looked for the return 

 of our wanderer, and with his continued absence our anxiety 

 grew. At 9.30 Evans, P.O., and his party returned without 

 news of him, and at last there was no denying the possibility of 

 a serious accident. Between 9.30 and 10 proper search parties 

 were organised, and I give the details to show the thoroughness 

 which I thought necessary to meet the gravity of the situation. 

 I had by this time learnt that Atkinson had left with compara- 

 tively light clothing and, still worse, with leather ski boots on his 

 feet; fortunately he had wind clothing. 



