66 THE VOYAGE OF THE 'DISCOVERY' [Jan. 



and the dogs, which have now become only a hindrance, were 

 hitched on behind the sledges — a very striking example of the 

 cart before the horse. " Boss " fell, and was put on the 

 sledge.' 



i Ja?iuary 7. — We have had a very warm and uncommonly 

 pleasant day. The temperature at noon rose to 34 and the 

 snow surface was just on the melting-point, a condition that is 

 excellent for the sledge-runners. We dropped all the dogs out 

 of the traces and pulled steadily ourselves for seven hours, 

 covering ten good miles by sledge-meter. " Boss," when we 

 left, turned back to the old camp ; later he was seen following, 

 but he has not turned up to-night, though supper-hour is long 

 past. The rest of the animals walked pretty steadily alongside 

 the sledges. It is a queer ending for our team; I do not 

 suppose they will ever go into harness again, unless it is to 

 help them along. 



' But who could describe the relief this is to us ? No more 

 cheering and dragging in front, no more shouting and yelling 

 behind, no more clearing of tangled traces, no more dismal 

 stoppages, and no more whip. All day we have been steadily 

 plodding on with the one purpose of covering the miles by our 

 own unaided efforts, and one feels that one would sooner have 

 ten such days than one with the harrowing necessity of driving 

 a worn-out dog team. For the first time we were able to con- 

 verse freely on the march, and in consequence the time passed 

 much more rapidly. 



' We have seen little of the land of late, though occasion- 

 ally our landmarks show up. The sun has been flickering in 

 and out all day. Much cloud hangs above the coast ; this 

 afternoon it developed into masses of rolled cumulus which 

 clung about the higher peaks like rolls of cotton wool. It is 

 the first time we have seen these to the south, and they are 

 pleasantly reminiscent of milder climates ; they would certainly 

 appear to have some connection with the wave of heat that is 

 passing over us. 



' We have been arguing to-night that if we can only get to 

 the depot in good time we can afford to have an extra feed, a 



