392 WORST JOURNEY IN THE WORLD 



to say we never encountered any ridges at all and the sur- 

 face, although very soft, was the best I have ever sledged 

 over ever since I have been at it. We fancied on our left or 

 to the west we saw what we took to be the ridges what we 

 seem to have missed altogether, although Mr. Evans have 

 been blind and could not see anything at all we have made 

 splendid progress and covered at least 20 miles, as near as 

 we can guess. We passed to-day one of the Doctor's home- 

 ward bound camps, and kept on their track for some time, 

 but finally lost it. We are camped to-night and we all feel 

 confident we shall, if the weather remains good, reach the 

 depot to-morrow night. 



Zist "January 19 12. 



Sunday : We started off as usual, again on ski, the 

 weather again being favourable. Mr. Evans' eyes is still 

 bad, but improving. It will be a good job when they are 

 better. I picked up our outward bound course soon after 

 we started this morning and asked Mr. Evans if I should 

 try and keep it, as it will save him the trouble of directing 

 me, and another thing we came out without going through 

 any crevasses and I have noticed a good many crevasses 

 to-day what seems to be very dangerous ones, and on two 

 occasions where our sledges [on the outward journey] had 

 gone over, two of the crevasses had fallen through. We 

 accomplished the journey from the Cloudmaker to this 

 depot in three days. We all feel quite proud of our per- 

 formance. Mr. Evans is a lot better to-night and old Tom 

 is giving us a song while he is covering up the tent with 

 snow. We have re-arranged the depot and left our usual 

 note for Capt. Scott, wishing them a speedy return. To- 

 morrow we hope to see and reach the Barrier, and be clear 

 of the Beardmore for ever. We none of us minds the 

 struggle we have been through to attain the amount of 

 success so far reached. It is all for the good of science, as 

 Crean says. We reached the depot at 6.45 p.m. 



Zind "January 19 12. 



We made a good start this morning and Mr. Evans' 

 eyes is got pretty well alright again, so things looks a bit 



