i 9 i2] A DIFFICULT RETURN 215 



sea ice was infinitely more disturbing than the question of their 

 wintering there. 



As one instance of the loyal way in which I was supported 

 during the whole of this season, I can quote the following: 

 ' Wright, from the very first, had been entirely against this jour- 

 ney. He had some knowledge of a previous sledge trip on the 

 western coast. Not until after I had told him that we should have 

 to turn back, did he tell me how thankful he was at the decision. 

 He had come on this trip fully believing that there was every 

 probability of the party being lost, but had never demurred and 

 never offered a contrary opinion, and one cannot be thankful 

 enough to such men.' 



We depoted two weeks' provisions at Butter Point and started 

 to make our way back to Hut Point, our only anxiety being lest 

 the new sea ice had blown out in the blizzard which had delayed 

 us at Butter Point. That night we camped near the northern 

 end of the Eskers and awaited the morning with some anxiety. 

 To our joy we found that the 4 miles of new ice was still in in 

 part. Again with a favouring wind we set sail and ran before 

 it for 2 miles. The wind again fell light, and to our consterna- 

 tion we saw the Emperor penguins walking solemnly toward 

 the edge of the old sea ice which probably meant that there was 

 open water between us and it. But eventually we reached safety 

 and camped for a meal, then in a bad light completed 6 more 

 miles. 



Next morning, the 22nd, a blizzard caused a late start. We 

 made for the end of the pinnacled ice, hoping to find our ice still 

 in. As we approached, dense volumes of frost-smoke were seen 

 arising from where it had been. This was serious, as it probably 

 meant we should have to make our way through the pinnacled ice, 

 an undertaking which meant several more days in the bad light 

 and bad going. Luckily for the party, there was a narrow ledge 

 or ice-foot projecting from the edge of the pinnacled ice. Al- 

 ternately along this and along the edge of the pinnacled ice we 

 made our way, stumbling and falling in the holes and capsizing 

 the sledge. After 7 miles we made our way through, and al- 

 though we could not then see our whereabouts, we knew the 

 remainder of the journey would be pretty plain sailing. 



On April 23 there was a blizzard in the morning, a very 

 strong wind and low temperature. There were no land marks 



