346 WORST JOURNEY IN THE WORLD 



soaked and shivering far more than they would be ordin- 

 arily in a temperature fifty degrees lower. Our sledges — 

 the parts that are dug out — are wet, our food is wet, every- 

 thing on and around and about us is the same — wet as 

 ourselves and our cold, clammy clothes. Water trickles 

 down the tent poles and only forms icicles in contact with 

 the snow floor. The warmth of our bodies has formed a 

 snow bath in the floor for each of us to lie in. This is a 

 nice little catchwater for stray streams to run into before 

 they freeze. This they cannot do while a warm human lies 

 there, so they remain liquid and the accommodating bag 

 mops them up. When we go out to do the duties of life, 

 fill the cooker, etc., for the next meal, dig out or feed the 

 ponies, or anything else, we are bunged up with snow. 

 Not the driving, sandlike snow we are used to, but great 

 slushy flakes that run down in water immediately and 

 stream off you. The drifts are tremendous, the rest of the 

 show is indescribable. I feel most for the unfortunate 

 animals and am thankful that poor old Victor is spared 

 this. I mended a pair of half mitts to-day, and we are 

 having two meals instead of three. This idleness when one 

 is simply jumping to go on is bad enough for most, but 

 must be worse for Captain Scott. I feel glad that he has 

 Dr. Bill (Wilson) in his tent; there is something always so 

 reassuring about Bill, he comes out best in adversity." 1 



"Thursday, December 7. Camp 30. The storm con- 

 tinues and the situation is now serious. One small feed 

 remains for the ponies after to-day, so that we must either 

 march to-morrow or sacrifice the animals. That is not the 

 worst; with the help of the dogs we could get on, without 

 doubt. The serious part is that we have this morning 

 started our Summit rations — that is to say, the food cal- 

 culated from the Glacier Depot has been begun. The first 

 supporting party can only go on a fortnight from this date 

 and so forth." 2 



This day was just as warm, and wetter — much wetter. 



The temperature was +3S'S°^ an< ^ our ^ a & s were u ke 

 sponges. The huge drifts had covered everything, includ- 



1 Bowers. 2 Scott's Last Expedition, vol. i. p. 489. 



