THE POLAR JOURNEY 389 



our crampons and got away as soon as we could. We know 

 there is not much time to spare. We are now beginning to 

 descend rapidly. To-night it is quite warm, and our tea 

 and food is warmer. Things are going pretty favourable. 

 We are looking forward to making good runs down the 

 glacier. We have had some very heavy dragging lately 

 [up] the sharp rises we found on the outward journey. 

 After a sharp rise we found a long gradual run down, two 

 and three miles in length. We noticed this on our outward 

 journey and remarked on it, but coming back the long up- 

 hill drag we found out was pretty heavy work. 



l$tk January 19 12. 



Had a good run to-day but the ice was very rough and 

 very much crevassed, but with crampons on we made 

 splendid progress. We did not like to stop, but we thought 

 it would not be advisable to overdo our strength as it is a 

 long way to go yet. 



1 6l A January 19 12. 



We made good headway again to-day, but to-night we 

 camped in some very rough ice and pressure ridges. We 

 are under the impression we are slightly out of our proper 

 course, but Mr. Evans thinks we cant be very far out either 

 way, and Crean and I are of the same opinion according to 

 the marks on the land. Anyhow we hope to get out of it in 

 the morning and make the Cloudmaker Depot by night. 

 We shall then feel safe, but the weather dont look over pro- 

 mising again to-night, I am thinking. So far we have not 

 had to stop for weather. We have wondered if the Pole 

 Party have been as lucky with the weather as we have. 

 They ought by now to be homeward bound. We have more 

 chance now of writing as the temperature is much better 

 down here. To-night we have been discussing how the 

 dogs got home, and also the progress made by the Doctor's 

 [Atkinson] Party. They ought to be nearing home. We 

 have thought of the time it will take us to reach it at the 

 rate we are getting along now. 



