86 THE VOYAGE OF THE 'DISCOVERY' [Jan. 



the soft snow added some small fact, and the whole made an 

 excellent detective study. The main point is that we know 

 now, as certainly as if we had been told, that Barne and his 

 party are safe and in good health, and this is no small relief 

 after our own experiences.' 



'January 27. — The temperature has again fallen to zero, 

 but it has been brisk and pleasant in the sun. Old and familiar 

 landmarks have been showing up one by one. Erebus raised 

 its head above the Bluff range ; Terror opened out to the east ; 

 the western range developed into better-known shape. It has 

 been grand to watch it all. We calculate to get to the depot 

 to-morrow, and have been wondering whether we shall find all 

 the good things we expect.' 



'January 28. — Things did not look so bright this morning ; 

 low, suspicious-looking clouds came up from the south with a 

 bitterly cold wind, and soon they were about us, obscuring 

 everything. Shackleton had a bad return of his cough, but 

 said he thought he could manage to get along ; so we spread 

 our sail and proceeded. One has to be prepared for very quick 

 changes in these parts, and by nine o'clock the whole sky had 

 cleared again, and the wind had gone round to W.S.W. ; this 

 was an awkward angle for our sail, and resulted in frequent 

 capsizes of the sledges, which brought a considerable strain on 

 our tempers. We hoped to reach the depot by lunch, but it 

 was an hour after that meal before Shackleton, who was ahead, 

 spotted the flag, and we turned our course to make for it. As 

 can be imagined, the last of the march was as near a rush as 

 our tired legs could command. At length and at last we have 

 reached the land of plenty ; the one great and pressing evil 

 will grip us no more. 



' Directly our tent was up we started our search amongst 

 the snow-heaps with childish glee. One after another our 

 treasures were brought forth : oil enough for the most lavish 

 expenditure, biscuit that might have lasted us for a month, 

 and, finally, a large brown provision-bag which we knew would 

 contain more than food alone. We have just opened this 

 provision -bag and feasted our eyes on the contents. There 



