182 WITH SCOTT: THE SILVER LINING 



I could get my back warm against him, which is not the case 

 when we reverse ! 



" We moved off about 1 1 a.m. with the light sledge. 

 Debenham prospected one-third of a mile, and then returned 

 to say that we could go on with both. So we pulled up the 

 heavy one, and in less than half an hour reached the level ice, 

 about n.45. Hence we traversed about six miles of pinnacle 

 ice. We had heavy going for a mile, owing to deep snow 

 between hard patches, occasionally knee-deep. 



" Now a long argument arose as to the course. Debenham 

 wished to head straight for Glacier Tongue, and reach Cape 

 Evans same night maybe. I judged it not much further to 

 Hut Point, and we were rather near the sea edge. Evans felt 

 frost-bite in toes, but said later it was due to chocolate-paper 

 stuffing ! 



" We camped for lunch at 1 p.m., with good hopes of 

 getting all c sprowsy ' by night. The others put on finnesko, 

 as all very cold. My feet troubled me least of all. Good 

 ho ! so I didn't change from boots, though blisters very raspy 

 when one's foot slipped into a deep crack ! Left about 2.30 

 and surface got much better — patches of hard white snow and 

 some ice. We decided to get to Hut Point or bust ! About 

 5 p.m. we decided to bust, for there was apparently five miles 

 of open water before the Hut ! So we deviated with what 

 speed we might to the south, gradually veering further south 

 in the teeth of a young blizzard, which made much drift and 

 at times obscured land. We donned coats and windproof, 

 and during the last hour got very wet with sweat. Rather 

 tired when at 6.30 we stopped near snow-drift, being four 

 miles from the sea. 



" We had to put up the pole first and then the tent, which 

 nearly blew away, and the floorcloth afterward. I got into 

 finnesko and got fairly warm, though the primus went out 

 several times through draught, etc. Huge blocks of snow on 

 flap. Rather slow prospect of a week or two at Hut Point, 

 when we felt yesterday pretty sure of getting to Cape Evans 

 in two days ! Wind moderated at intervals in the night. 

 Good sunset and fairly clear, so this is not a true blizzard. 



"Saturday, March 11. — Fairly clear, still some snow-drift 

 and gusty. Up early. Every one uncomfortable in the 

 night. Hope to reach the Hut via Pram Point about 4 p.m. 



/ 



