1903] A GLOOMY PROSPECT 203 



now growing very severe. I have had to think things out under 

 this new development, and I don't find the task is pleasant ; 

 nothing is in sight ahead, and the prospect is gloomy. We 

 have a week's provision in hand, but it looks mighty little in 

 the midst of this horrible, never-ending plain ; but what is 

 more alarming is that we are well into our last can of oil, and 

 there is only a few days' allowance left, at the rate we have 

 been using it. 



' We have had a long discussion about matters to-night. I 

 told the men I thought we were in a pretty tight place, and 

 that we should have to take steps accordingly. I proposed 

 that we should increase our marching hours by one hour, go on 

 half allowance of oil, and if we don't sight landmarks in a 

 couple of days reduce our rations. I explained the scheme for 

 oil economy which we adopted last year, and when I came to 

 the cold lunch and fried breakfast poor Evans's face fell ; he 

 evidently doesn't much believe in the virtue of food unless it 

 is in the form of a hoosh and has some chance of stickinp- to 

 one's ribs. Lashly is to do all the cooking until we come to 

 happier times, as he is far the best hand at the Primus, and can 

 be rehed upon not to exceed allowance. 



'I have been struggling with my sights and deviations 

 table, but although I believe we cannot be far off the glacier 

 the sense of uncertainty is oppressive. We are really travelling 

 by rule of thumb, and one cannot help all sorts of doubts 

 creeping in when the consequences are so serious.' 



''December 10. — This morning we plugged away for five 

 mortal hours on a surface which is, if anything, worse than 

 yesterday. The pulling is so heavy that it is impossible to 

 drag one's thoughts away to brighter subjects, and the time 

 passes in the most wearisome manner. Then came our new 

 routine of cold, comfortless lunch, and we started once more. 

 We had not been going more than an hour in the afternoon, 

 however, when Evans's sharp eye sighted the land, and soon 

 some isolated nunataks appeared on both bows. This was 

 very cheering, and we struggled on through the remainder of 

 our march with renewed hope. Later we rose several mountain 



