THE GRANITE HARBOUR EXPEDITION 339 



bags also. Meanwhile Debenham prepared a fine hoosh, and 

 Anton conducted a lively class in Russian. In the dep6t were 

 some soft captain's biscuits left by Shackleton's party. Forde 

 and Debenham preferred them to our official ration of hard 

 sledging biscuit, and so we made an exchange, for I knew we 

 could always make up deficit by seal-meat. 



On the 1 8th we started off with six men to pull the three 

 sledges ; but we found it impossible, and had to relay all the 

 time. We were now crossing the mouth of New Harbour, 

 making for Cape Bernacchi, at its north-east corner. 



At lunch we finished off Nelson's contribution of Tru 

 milk, and Debenham took a photo of the combined parties. 

 Then the " Convoy Commando " left us, and we saw them 

 for an hour or so plugging steadily towards Cape Royds. 

 Here Nelson intended to get some penguin eggs before going 

 to Cape Evans. 



Now we were left to our own resources, with 1350 lbs. to 

 drag along, I distributed the weight more evenly on the two 

 sledges, putting the heavy biscuit-boxes on one, and the tents 

 and sledging gear on the other. 



After lunch we pulled off, Debenham and myself in front, 

 and Forde and Gran near the sledge. The sun was hot, but 

 as usual, when we anticipated trouble, it was not forthcoming, 

 for Debenham was able to help us very materially, and the 

 surface was rippled and harder than we had seen hitherto. 



Soon we were hotter than we liked, and our headgear 

 was modified to suit the climate. Forde appeared in a huge 

 panama. Debenham and Gran had felt hats with ear-flaps, 

 and I wore an ordinary colonial felt, which I tied down like 

 a coal-scuttle when the wind was too keen. This day it was 

 warm enough to wear no hat at all, so I walked bareheaded 

 with goggles, " and would have liked to pull off my vest 

 also " ! 



The screw-pack was low hereabouts, only projecting two 

 or three feet ; but the hollows were masked by snow, which 

 made the walking difficult and even dangerous for Debenham. 

 We took the " biscuit " sledge on first for about a mile and 

 flagged it ; then trudged back for the " tent " sledge. Deben- 

 ham met us soon, and pulled with us for the same weary mile. 

 It took about forty minutes to do this, and about twenty to 

 walk back, so that transporting the half-ton over a mile meant 



