I9I2] IN A MAZE OF CREVASSES 391 



luckily no bad accident. At length we saw a smoother slope 

 towards the land, pushed for it, but knew it was a woefully 

 long way from us. The turmoil changed in character, irregular 

 crevassed surface giving way to huge chasms, closely packed and 

 most difficult to cross. It was very heavy work, but we had 

 grown desperate. We won through at 10 p.m. and I write after 

 12 hours on the march. I think we are on or about the right track 

 now, but we are still a good number of miles from the depot, 

 so we reduced rations to-night. We had three pemmican meals 

 left and decided to make them into four. To-morrow's lunch 

 must serve for two if we do not make big progress. It was a 

 test of our endurance on the march and our fitness with small 

 supper. We have come through well. A good wind has come 

 down the glacier which is clearing the sky and surface. Pray 

 God the wind holds to-morrow. Short sleep to-night and off 

 first thing, I hope. 



Monday, February 12. — R.26. In a very critical situation. 

 All went well in the forenoon, and we did a good long march 

 over a fair surface. Two hours before lunch we were cheered 

 by the sight of our night camp of the i8th December, the day 

 after we made our depot — this showed we were on the right 

 track. In the afternoon, refreshed by tea, we went forward, 

 confident of covering the remaining distance, but by a fatal 

 chance we kept too far to the left, and then we struck uphill 

 and, tired and despondent, arrived in a horrid maze of crevasses 

 and fissures. Divided councils caused our course to be erratic 

 after this, and finally, at 9 P.M. we landed in the worst place of 

 all. After discussion we decided to camp, and here we are, 

 after a very short supper and one meal only remaining in the 

 food bag; the depot doubtful in locality. We must get there 

 to-morrow. Meanwhile we are cheerful with an effort. It's a 

 tight place, but luckily we've been well fed up to the present. 

 Pray God we have fine weather to-morrow. 



[At this point the bearings of the mid-glacier depot are 

 given, but need not be quoted.] 



Tuesday, February 13. — Camp R.27, beside Cloudmaker. 

 Temp. - 10°. Last night we all slept well In spite of our grave 

 anxieties. For my part these were increased by my visits outside 

 the tent, when I saw the sky gradually closing over and snow 

 beginning to fall. By our ordinary time for getting up it was 



