A HARD STRUGGLE 207 



" Meanwhile time is going, and the number of clogs 

 diminishing. We have now 12 left; yesterday ' Katta ' 

 was killed. And our provisions are also gradually on 

 the decrease, though, thank Heaven, we have a good 

 deal remaining. The first tin of petroleum (2^ gallons) 

 came to an end three days ago, and we shall soon have 

 finished our second sack of bread. We do nothing but 

 scan the horizon longingly for land, but see nothing, even 

 when I climb up on to the highest hummocks \\\\.\\ the 

 telescope. 



"Monday, May 13th. +8.6° Fahr. (—13° C.) ; mini- 

 mum + 6.6° Fahr. (—14.2° C). This is, indeed, a toilsome 

 existence. The number of the dogs, and likewise their 

 hauling powers, diminish by degrees, and they are inert 

 and difficult to urge on. The ice grows worse and 

 worse as we approach land, and is, besides, covered with 

 much deeper and looser snow than before. It is par- 

 ticularly difficult to get on in the broken-up ice, where 

 the snow^ although it covers up many irregularities, at 

 the same time lets one sink through almost up to one's 

 thighs between the pieces of ice as soon as one takes 

 one's snow-shoes off to help the sledge. It is extremely 

 tiring and shaky on this sort of surface to use one's snow- 

 shoes not firmly secured to the feet, but one cannot have 

 them properly fastened on when one has to help the dogs 

 at any moment or pull and tug at these eternal sledges. 

 I think in snow such as this Indian snow-shoes would be 

 preferable, and I only wish I had some. Meanwhile, 



