Chapter Ctoent^foirc 



THE RETURN MARCH 



7ANUARY 10.— We started at 7.30 a.m. with a fair 

 wind, and marched all day, with a stop of one hour 

 for lunch, doing over isy 2 geographical miles to the north. 

 It has, indeed, been fortunate for us that we have been 

 able to follow our outward tracks, for the force of the gale 

 had torn the flags from the staffs. We will be all right 

 when we pick up our depot. It has been a big risk leaving 

 our food on the great white plain, with only our sledge 

 tracks to guide us back. To-night we are all tired out, 

 but we have put a good march behind us. The tempera- 

 ture is minus 9° Fahr. 



January 11. — A good day. We have done nearly 17 

 geographical miles. We have picked up our depot and 

 now are following the sledge tracks to the north. The 

 temperature has been minus 15° Fahr. There has been 

 tremendous wind here, and the sastrugi are enormous. 



January 12. — We did 14 miles 100 yards to-day 

 with little wind to help us. The surface was very 

 heavy and we found enormous sastrugi. The wind is 

 getting up to-night. I hope for a good breeze behind 

 us to-morrow. 



January 13. — It was heavy pulling all day, but we 

 did a good distance in spite of it, getting 15 miles 1650 

 yards to the north. We have the sail up continually, 

 but I cannot say that it has been very much help to-day. 

 The temperature, minus 18° Fahr. nearly all the time, 



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