424 WORST JOURNEY IN THE WORLD 



think they will have been able to travel all right on the 

 Barrier. Atkinson thinks of starting on the 22nd: my view 

 is that allowing three weeks and four days for the Summit, 

 and ten days for being hung up by weather, we can give 

 them five weeks after the Last Return Party (i.e. to March 

 26) to get in, having been quite safe and sound all the 

 way. We feel anxious now, but I do not think there is 

 need for alarm till then, and thev might get in well after 

 that, and be all right. 



"Now our only real chance of finding them, if we go 

 out, is from here to ten miles south of Corner Camp. After 

 that we shall do all we can, but it would be no good, because 

 there is no very definite route. Therefore I would start out on 

 March 2 7, when we would travel that part with most chance 

 of meeting them there if they have any trouble. I have put 

 this to Atkinson and will willingly do what he decides. I 

 am feeling pretty done up, and have rested. The prospect 

 of what will be a hard journey, feeling as I do, is rather bad. 

 I don't think there is really cause for alarm." 



"March 18 and 19. We are very anxious, though the 

 Pole Party could not be in yet. Also I am very done, and 

 more so than I at first thought : I am afraid it is a bit doubt- 

 ful whether I can get out again yet, but to-day I feel better 

 and have been for a short walk. T am taking all the rest 

 I can." 



"March 20. Last night a very strong blizzard blew, 

 wind force 9 and big snowfall and drift. This morning the 

 doors and windows are all drifted up, and we could hardly 

 get out : a lot of snow had got inside the hut also : I was 

 feeling rotten, and thought that to go out and clear the 

 window and door would do me good. This I did, but came 

 back in a big squall, passing Atkinson as I came in. Then 

 I felt myself going faint, and remember pushing the door 

 to get in if possible. I knew no more until I came to on 

 the floor just inside the door, having broken some tendons 

 in my right hand in falling." 1 



Two days afterwards the dogs sang at breakfast-time: 

 they often did this when a party was approaching, even 



1 My own diary. 



