122 WORST JOURNEY IN THE WORED 
survive Bliicher that we started to think back and thus the 
mystery of X Cairn was clear to me. I was quite certain 
now that both the ancient ponies had died and that Jimmy 
Pigg had returned alone. The following day (February 23) 
was a good marching day also, but a bit cloudy latterly. 
We did fourteen miles as this evidence of pony failuremade 
us all the more anxious about ours, though really they were 
going very well. About eight miles on we came to one of 
Evans’ camps and the solitary pony wall told its own tale 
of the death of the other two. He must have had a miser- 
able return. At eleven miles there were two bales of fodder 
depdted, we were only 50 miles odd from our destination 
off Cape Armitage, and had one meal over three days’ food. 
If, therefore, we could average 15 miles a day that would 
suffice. It was a silly risk in view of blizzards and other 
possibilities, chiefly our own inexperience. As it was I took 
it and left the fodder there for next year. 
February 24 was another march into impenetrable 
gloom. Fortunately Corner Camp, though dark enough, 
was not shaded in mist. I examined it for notes and evi- 
dence and found some. The sun set properly now, and had 
we been farther from home I should have changed to day 
marching. I have seldom seen such a scene of utter deso- 
lation as Corner Camp presented on that gloomy day. The 
fog then settled down and like people of the mist, we 
struck off blindly to the N.W. At 3.15 a.m. a light S. 
breeze came away ; I dreaded a blizzard with so little pony 
food, and already regretted my folly in leaving the fodder. 
After doing twelve miles we had to camp, as it was impos- 
sible even to march straight in the white haze. We made 
five colossal walls and turned in, hoping for the best. For- 
tune favours the reckless, as well as the brave, at times, and 
it did this time, as the blizzard still held off. The signs of 
one impending were unmistakable notwithstanding. Weary 
Willie didless well on February 2 5,andas thesurface became 
heavier, we had to camp after only doing eleven miles. 
I thought best in view of the threatening appearance of 
the weather to have a six hours’ rest, and march into Safety _ 
Camp the same day, a distance of eight miles. We found 
