FIRST WESTERN EXPEDITION 



163 



Later we halted in a slight snowstorm. We were 

 cheered to hear Evans say that it was the worst sledging sur- 

 face he had ever seen, even though he added that it was not 

 fit for sledges. I wore my iron steig-eisen all day, and so 

 was able to hold my own somewhat ; but the others preferred 

 to slip about, for the irons certainly made one's feet very sore. 



For an hour we had fair going over " plough-share " and 

 shallow glass-houses, during which we changed direction 

 somewhat to the south. A thick snowstorm blotted all ahead, 

 and we reached a region of " basket-work ' ice structures, 

 which we called " fascines," and all sorts of ice tables. One 

 shaped like an Armadillo standing on a pedestal was especially 

 noticeable, and after pulling the sledge over three " roof- 

 pillars ' (the roof having long ago fallen in) we cried 

 "enough," and camped in the shadow of the "Armadillo." 



" It is fairly warm to-night, the others smoking peacefully. 

 They have almost given up trying to make me smoke. I had 

 a difficulty in getting Wright to eat some extra pemmican ! 

 { Sugar Vat,' ' Liver Chewer,' and ' Pemmican Tub,' are 

 common ekenames. And so to sleep." 



During the next four days we struggled up the middle of 

 the Koetditz Glacier. It was a strenuous time, but I recall a 

 pleasant noon halt 

 when P.O. Evans 

 earned an honest 

 penny. We saw him 

 playing with the rope 

 which lashed his 

 sleeping-bag. Says 

 Evans, "I'll show 

 you how to make a 

 clove-hitch with one 

 hand, and I bet you 

 a 15. 3^/. dinner (our 

 usual currency) you can't do it after you've seen me do it six 

 times ! ' Debenham took the bet, and we all watched Evans 

 closely. Then " Deb " tried, and to our joy succeeded, for 

 the handy-man was rarely " done." But he never turned a 

 hair, and booked the bets that now filled the air. Again 

 Debenham proceeded to try, and failed — and Wright and I 

 were equally unsuccessful. Evans made quite a haul, but 



One - ha.nd 

 Clove Hi l"ch 



How Ev&ns won his bef". 

 20-2.fl 



