i 9 i i] DASH FOR THE CLIFFS 169 



We bustled things, and after tantalising delays with the rope 

 got Bowers and some others on the floe, then lowered the sledges 

 packed; three men, including Crean and myself, slid down last 

 on the Alpine rope doubled and taken round an ash stave, so 

 that we were able to unreeve the end and recover the rope 

 we recovered also most of the old Alpine rope, all except a 

 piece buried in snow on the sea ice and dragged down under 

 the slush, just like the Discovery boats; I could not have sup- 

 posed this could happen in so short a time. 17 



By the time all stores were on the floe, with swirling drift 

 about us, everyone was really badly cold one of those moments 

 for quick action. We harnessed and dashed for the shelter of 

 the cliffs; up tents, and hot tea as quick as possible; after this 

 and some shift of foot gear all were much better. Heavy 

 plod over the sea ice, starting at 4.30 very bad light on the 

 glacier, and we lost our way as usual, stumbling into many 

 crevasses, but finally descended in the old place; by this time 

 sweating much. Crean reported our sledge pulling much more 

 heavily than the other one. Marched on to Little Razor Back 

 Island without halt, our own sledge dragging fearfully. Crean 

 said there was great difference in the sledges, though loads were 

 equal. Bowers politely assented when I voiced this sentiment, 

 but I'm sure he and his party thought it the plea of tired men. 

 However there was nothing like proof, and he readily assented 

 to change sledges. The difference was really extraordinary; 

 we felt the new sledge a featherweight compared with the old, 

 and set up a great pace for the home quarters regardless of 

 how much we perspired. We arrived at the hut (two miles 

 away) ten minutes ahead of the others, who by this time were 

 quite convinced as to the difference in the sledges. 



The difference was only marked when pulling over the salt- 

 covered sea ice; on snow the sledges seemed pretty much the 

 same. It is due to the grain of the wood in the runners and 

 is worth looking into. 



We all arrived bathed in sweat our garments were soaked 

 through, and as we took off our wind clothes showers of ice 

 fell on the floor. The accumulation was almost incredible and 

 shows the whole trouble of sledging in cold weather. It would 

 have been very uncomfortable to have camped in the open under 

 such conditions, and assuredly a winter and spring party can- 



