364 WORST JOURNEY IN THE WORLD 



had shaken out on the bumpy ice, and the clockwork had 

 fallen off. This is serious for it means that one of the three 

 returning parties will have to go without, and their navi- 

 gation will be much more difficult. Birdie is very upset, 

 especially after all the trouble he has taken with it, and the 

 hours which he has sat up. After lunch he and Bill walked 

 back near two miles in the tracks, but could not see it. It 

 was then getting very thick, coming over from the north." 1 

 " It appeared to be blizzing down the glacier, though clear 

 to the south. The northerly wind drove up a back-draught 

 of snow, and very soon fogged us completely. However we 

 found our way back to camp by the crampon tracks on the 

 blue ice and then packed up to leave." 2 



"We started, making a course to hit the east side of 

 the island where there seems to be the only break in the 

 ice-falls which stretch right across. The weather lifted, and 

 we are now camped with the island just to our right, the 

 long strata of coal showing plainly in it, and just in front 

 of us is this steep bit up through the falls. We have done 

 nearly 23 statute miles to-day, pulling 160 lbs. a man. 



"This evening has been rather a shock. As I was 

 getting my finnesko on to the top of my ski beyond the 

 tent Scott came up to me, and said that he was afraid he 

 had rather a blow for me. Of course I knew what he was 

 going to say, but could hardly grasp that I was going back 

 — to-morrow night. The returning party is to be Atch, 

 Silas, Keohane and self. 



" Scott was very put about, said he had been thinking 

 a lot about it but had come to the conclusion that the sea- 

 men with their special knowledge, would be needed: to 

 rebuild the sledge, I suppose. Wilson told me it was a toss- 

 up whether Titus or I should go on : that being so I think 

 Titus will help him more than I can. I said all I could 

 think of — he seemed so cut up about it, saying ' I think, 

 somehow, it is specially hard on you.' I said I hoped I 

 had not disappointed him, and he caught hold of me 

 and said 'No — no — No,' so if that is the case all is well. 

 He told me that at the bottom of the glacier he was 



1 My own diary. * Bowers. 



