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394 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. June 



relished our pannikin full of ox-cheek and mutton that 

 we had for supper last night, and agreed that it was 

 one of the most delicious repasts that we had ever par- 

 taken of. After lunch sighted the main party coming 

 towards us. Hoisted colours. 12.45, met the Captain 

 and his party, from all of whom we received a warm 

 and kind greeting. No time was wasted in asking 

 questions, but the march renewed — my party, the 

 lame ducks, dragging one sledge, the relief party 

 dragging the other two, the invalids who had been 

 walking being put on the dog-sledge. 



' 12th. — May went on with dog-sledge to the ship, 

 taking Shirley and Pearson. The travelling all day 

 has been remarkably good, and we succeed in getting 

 along famously ; our only difficulty is in going through 

 deep snow, when the men, their legs being so bad, are 

 compelled to stop and drag them out of the holes 

 into which they sink. Winstone, with the aid of a 

 staff, manages to keep up with us. 



' 13th. — Legs very stiff, but the idea of soon getting 

 on board the ship acted as a good restorative. Ob- 

 served the dog-sledge coming over Mushroom Point. 

 Hoisted colours. Sent Winstone, Lawrence, and 

 Harley to the ship on May's sledge. Arrived on Mush- 

 room Point at 8.30. Deposited, in tent pitched there, 

 all provisions. Eesumed the march, arriving alongside 

 the ship at half-past one on the morning of Wednesday 

 the 14th of June. 



' Out of my original party of fifteen men, three only 

 — namely, Eadmore, Joliffe, and Maskell — were capable 

 of dragging the sledge ; the remaining eleven having 

 been carried alongside on the relief sledges.' 



