1903] RETURN TO THE SHIP 171 



on us we camped with twenty-four miles to our credit for the 

 day, and as our tents were being secured I looked round to 

 find that the supporting party were still gallantly struggling on 

 in our wake ; seeing our tents go up, they halted about a mile 

 and a half behind us. 



At dawn on the 21st we were away once more, and stretch- 

 ing out directly for the ship j far away we could see Castle Rock 

 and Observation Hill, small dots on the horizon. Hour after 

 hour went by, but we never eased our pace till at our lunch hour 

 we came on a fat seal and paused to eat our meal and to secure 

 the certainty of a good supper from the animal that had been 

 unwise enough to bask in our track. In the afternoon our 

 home landmarks grew more distinct, and as the sun dipped we 

 came on the last six miles of wind-tossed snow that skirted our 

 peninsula. The semi-darkness found us struggling on over 

 this uneven, difficult surface, but at half-past eight we were 

 through and reached the ship, having covered thirty-six miles 

 in the day. 



We had accomplished a record for which the glow of satis- 

 faction that we felt was excusable ; but more was to follow, for 

 later that night a shout of welcome announced that our 

 undefeated supporting party had also struggled home. Ferrar 

 soon told me his tale ; at first they had not intended to come 

 in at racing speed, but seeing the advance party striding off at 

 such a pace, their feelings of emulation had been excited, and 

 they had felt bound to follow. On camping behind us on the 

 previous night they had determined to catch us in the early 

 morning, but as they roused out with that intention they saw 

 that we also were preparing to be off. Then followed the long 

 march, when, despite all their efforts, the leading party grew 

 more and more indistinct. It was not until late in the after- 

 noon that they lost sight of us altogether, and then there could 

 be no doubt of our intention to reach the ship before night. 



In spite of their lame and exhausted condition, they deter- 

 mined to follow. Once or twice they had halted to brew tea 

 to keep themselves going, but not one of them had suggested 

 that the halt should be extended. In the hard struggle of the 



