120 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [NOVEMBER 



so after going about half a mile we sounded with an ice axe and 

 found we were on thin soft ice, which cannot have been much 

 more than a day or two old. Turning the sledge we went back 

 at a run, not stopping until we got on to better ice by the old 

 sledge. Taking the rest of the food we then started W.S.W. 

 towards the Eskers. Several leads were so new we had to cross 

 them at a run, and it was 7.30 before we found sound ice, with 

 no weak leads between us and the shore, and then I decided to 

 camp. 



November 4. Weather overcast and warm. We turned 

 out at 4.30, and after breakfast Priestley, Abbott, and Dickason 

 went back with the empty sledge to get the remainder of the 

 depot, and if possible fit on the iron runners, while Levick, Brown- 

 ing, and I went back with packs to get more food. We had a 

 long tramp to Butter Point and back over rough ice, and we 

 had done 18 miles before we got back to camp, Levick and I 

 with a 50 Ib. pack and Brgwning with a smaller one, as he had 

 not quite recovered. 



The change in Browning's condition owing to the biscuit is 

 marvellous. 



A week ago he could just walk by the sledge on a march of 

 8 or 10 miles; to-night, although tired, he is none the worse for 

 his 1 8 mile walk. We found Priestley and his party had already 

 arrived with the rest of the depot when we got back, and to my 

 great joy he had been able to fit the iron runners on to the 

 i2-ft. sledge. 



November 5. We turned out at 3.30. A lovely morning, 

 with bright sun. After breakfast we started away, steering for 

 the Dailey Islands, but we were forced to make a detour to the 

 west to avoid rotten ice leads. 



The mirage was extraordinary. At one place we thought 

 we saw three men pulling a sledge; Priestley and I walked 

 towards them; they apparently stopped; Priestley started sema- 

 phoring while I looked through my glasses. No result. Suddenly 

 they turned and I saw they were Emperor penguins, miraged up 

 in a way that made them look like figures. These leads of bad 

 ice seemed to run into Blue Glacier, but I thought I could see 

 good ice beyond them, so we raced the sledge straight across, 

 getting over without a mishap. Once over we found old ice 

 behind a pressure ridge, and after crossing that struck the Barrier 



