io8 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [OCTOBER 



I thought it best to get the sledges across and push on; the sur- 

 face was good the other side, and with the gale behind us, we 

 raced along, trusting to the wind to steer by, as it was impossible 

 to see where we were going. 



The pace was too much for poor Browning, who was very 

 bad again, and we had to camp at 5.30, having done about 8-5 

 miles. Dickason, I am thankful to say, is better and was able to 

 pull to-day. 



The wind dropped after supper, leaving us a lovely but a 

 very cold evening. 



October 3. A very cold night, the wind getting up again at 

 3 A.M. and bringing drift. Levick had trouble with his primus 

 and we did not get away till 9 A.M. Soft snowdrifts made the 

 going very slow and heavy, until just before noon, when we got 

 on ice again among rocks. These we examined, but found no 

 sandstone. The drift was very thick, and, about 2, getting on 

 undulating broken ice, I thought it advisable to pitch one tent, 

 lunch, and wait for the weather to clear. About 3.30 the wind 

 became rather worse, so we pitched the other tent and camped, 

 the distance covered in the day being 3 miles. Browning looked 

 very bad, but Dickason's condition is still improving. 



October 4. Blowing hard, with blinding drift. We de- 

 layed breakfast until 9 A.M., hoping it would clear, but as there 

 was no improvement in the weather we turned in again, and as 

 we were not marching we went on half rations of biscuit. Very 

 cold. 



October 5. Turned out at six to find a slight improvement, 

 so had breakfast; but before we finished the wind and drift came 

 down on us again as bad as ever, so that there was nothing for 

 it but to coil down in our bags and wait. About noon the weather 

 improved and we were off. The surface soon changed for the 

 better and we made good way through some more scattered mo- 

 raines which came from the Reeves Glacier. We noticed a 

 marked open water sky to our left and front and pulled on till 

 6 P.M., hoping to make the inlet, as we wanted salt ice for the 

 hoosh, but without attaining our object. It is impossible to pull 

 longer, as the days are still short and we have no candles. We 

 have made about six miles. 



October 6. We turned out at 5.45 to find the weather thick, 

 but blue sky to the northward. We were back on a snow surface 



