538 WORST JOURNEY IN THE WORLD 



"Sunday, March 18. To-day, lunch, we are 21 miles 

 from the depot. Ill fortune presses, but better may come. 

 We have had more wind and drift from ahead yesterday ; 

 had to stop marching ; wind N.W., force 4, temp. - 35 . 

 No human being could face it, and we are worn out nearly. 



" My right foot has gone, nearly all the toes — two days 

 ago I was proud possessor of best feet. . . . Bowers takes 

 first place in condition, but there is not much to choose 

 after all. The others are still confident of getting through 

 — or pretend to be — I don't know ! We have the last half 

 fill of oil in our primus and a very small quantity of spirit 

 — this alone between us and thirst. The wind is fair for 

 the moment, and that is perhaps a fact to help. The mile- 

 age would have seemed ridiculously small on our outward 

 journey." 



"Monday, March 19. Lunch. We camped with diffi- 

 culty last night and were dreadfully cold till after our 

 supper of cold pemmican and biscuit and a half pannikin 

 of cocoa cooked over the spirit. Then, contrary to expecta- 

 tion, we got warm and all slept well. To-day we started in 

 the usual dragging manner. Sledge dreadfully heavy. W r e 

 are 15^ miles from the depot and ought to get there in 

 three days. What progress ! W 7 e have two days' food but 

 barely a day's fuel. All our feet are getting bad — Wilson's 

 best, my right foot worse, left all right. There is no chance 

 to nurse one's feet till we can get hot food into us. Ampu- 

 tation is the least I can hope for now, but will the trouble 

 spread? That is the serious question. The weather doesn't 

 give us a chance — the wind from N. to N.W. and - 40 

 temp, to-day." 



" Wednesday, March 2 1 . Got within 1 1 miles of depot 

 Monday night ; had to lay up all yesterday in severe bliz- 

 zard. To-day forlorn hope, Wilson and Bowers going to 

 depot for fuel." 



"22 and 23. Blizzard bad as ever — Wilson and Bowers 

 unable to start — to-morrow last chance — no fuel and only 

 one or two of food left — must be near the end. Have de- 

 cided it shall be natural — we shall march for the depot 

 with or without our effects and die in our tracks." 



