I903] A DASH FOR THE SUMMIT 185 



warm in them, and there could be no doubt that the long 

 inactivity was telling on our circulation and health. 



On the evening of this day, therefore, realising that things 

 were beginning to go badly for us, I determined that whatever 

 the conditions might be, we would make an attempt to start 

 on the following morning. To show the result of this attempt 

 I again have recourse to my diary. 



^November 10. — Before breakfast this morning we shifted 

 our foot-gear ready for the march, and during a lull the boat- 

 swain and I dug out our sledges and provisions. After break- 

 fast the wind came down on us again, but we went out to 

 complete our work. In ten minutes we were back in the 

 tent; both my hands were "gone," and I had to be assisted in 

 nursing them back. Skelton had three toes and the heel of 

 one foot badly frost-bitten, and the boatswain had lost all 

 feeling in both feet. One could only shout an occasional 

 inquiry to the other tents, but I gather their inmates are in 

 pretty much the same condition. I think the wind and drift 

 have never been quite so bad as to-day, and the temperature is 

 — 20°. Things are looking serious ; I fear the long spell of 

 bad weather is telling on us. The cheerfulness of the party is 

 slowing waning ; I heard the usual song from Lashly this 

 morning, but it was very short-lived and dolorous. Luck is 

 not with us this trip, and yet we have worked hard to make 

 things go right. Something must be done to-morrow, but 

 what it will be, to morrow only can show. Weller complained 

 of feeling giddy to-day, but Ferrar says it is because he eats 

 too fast. 



^November 11. — Thank heaven we have broken away from 

 our " Desolation Camp " at last. It is impossible to describe 

 how awful the past week has been ; it is a "nightmare " to 

 remember. When we turned out this morning there was a 

 lull, but the air was still as thick as a hedge. We hurried over 

 breakfast, dreading each moment that the wind would return, 

 then we bundled everything on to the sledges anyhow, seized 

 our harness and were away. I had just time to give a few 

 directions to Ferrar, who turned back to seek shelter under 



