x^t 





1912] OATES' CONDITION WORSE 405 



we could have kept up our 9-mile days we might have got within 

 reasonable distance of the depot before running out, but nothing 

 but a strong wind and good surface can help us now, and 

 though we had quite a good breeze this morning, the sledge 

 came as heavy as lead. If we were all fit I should have hopes 

 of getting through, but the poor Soldier has become a terrible "^ 

 hindrance, though he does his utmost and suffers much I fear. 



Wednesday, March 7. A little worse I fear. One of Oates' 

 feet very bad this morning; he is wonderfully brave. We still 

 talk of what we will do together at home. 



We only made 6 l / 2 miles yesterday. (R. 49.) This morning 

 in 4^4 hours we did just over 4 miles. We are 16 from our 

 depot. If we only find the correct proportion of food there and 

 this surface continues, we may get to the next depot [Mt. 

 Hooper, 72 miles farther] but not to One Ton Camp. We hope 

 against hope that the dogs have been to Mt. Hooper; then we 

 might pull through. If there is a shortage of oil again we can 

 have little hope. One feels that for poor Oates the crisis is 

 near, but none of us are improving, though we are wonderfully 

 fit considering the really excessive work we are doing. We are 

 only kept going by good food. No wind this morning till a 

 chill northerly air came ahead. Sun bright and cairns showing 

 up well. I should like to keep the track to the end. 



Thursday, March 8. Lunch. Worse and worse in morn- 

 ing; poor Oates' left foot can never last out, and time over foot 

 gear something awful. Have to wait in night foot gear for 

 nearly an hour before I start changing, and then am generally 

 first to be ready. Wilson's feet giving trouble now, but this 

 mainly because he gives so much help to others. We did 4^/2 

 miles this morning and are now 8^2 miles from the depot 

 a ridiculously small distance to feel in difficulties, yet on this 

 surface we know we cannot equal half our old marches, and that 

 for that effort we expend nearly double the energy. The great 

 question is, What shall we find at the depot? If the dogs have 

 visited it we may get along a good distance, but if there is an- 

 other short allowance of fuel, God help us indeed. We are in 

 a very bad way, I fear, in any case. 



Saturday, March 10. Things steadily downhill. Oates' 

 foot worse. He has rare pluck and must know that he can 

 never get through. He asked Wilson if he had a chance this 



