THE HEART OF THE ANTARCTIC 



in height, situated so far south, would be a matter of 

 pleasurable excitement both to those who were selected 

 as climbers and to the rest of us who wished for our 

 companions' success. After consideration I decided 

 that Professor David, Mawson and Mackay shoujd 

 constitute the party that was to try to reach the summit, 

 and they were to be provisioned for ten days. A 

 supporting-party, consisting of Adams, Marshall and 

 Brocklehurst, was to assist the main-party as far as 

 feasible. The whole expedition was to be under Adams' 

 charge until he decided that it was time for his party 

 to return, and the Professor was then to be in charge 

 of the advance-party. In my written instructions 

 to Adams, he was given the option of going on to the 

 summit if he thought it feasible for his party to push 

 on, and he actually did so, though the supporting- 

 party was not so well equipped for the mountain work 

 as the advance-party, and was provisioned for six 

 days only. Instructions were given that the support- 

 ing-party was not to hamper the main-party, especially 

 as regarded the division of provisions, but as a matter 

 of fact, instead of hampering, the three men became of 

 great assistance to the advance division, and lived 

 entirely on their own stores and equipment during the 

 whole trip. No sooner was it decided to make the 

 ascent, which was arranged for, finally, on March 4, 

 than the winter quarters became busy with the bustle 

 of preparation. There were crampons to be made, 

 food-bags to be prepared and filled, sleeping-bags 

 to be overhauled, ice-axes to be got out and a 

 hundred and one things to be seen to; yet such was 

 the energy thrown into this work that the men were 

 ready for the road and made a start at 8.30 a.m. on 

 the 5th. 



In a previous chapter I have described the nature 



168 



