THE HEART OF THE ANTARCTIC 



stopped at 1 a.m. It was clear over part of the land as 

 we started, but soon snow began to fall again and the 

 weather became very thick; yet, steering on a course, 

 we came through the crevasses and drift without even 

 touching one, though before, in good light, we have 

 had to turn and twist to avoid them. The surface was 

 heavy for pulling on, owing to the fine snow from 

 the blizzard, but we did 13 miles for the day, working 

 a full ten hours till 7.50 p.m. The weather cleared 

 right up in the afternoon, and we made a good 

 course. Wild is seedy to-day, but we hope that as soon 

 as he reaches Grisi depot he will be better. We have 

 no variety of food, and only have four miserably thin 

 biscuits a day to eke out the horse-meat. The plasmon 

 is all finished and so are we ourselves by the end of the 

 day's march. The sledge also is in a terribly bad state, 

 but as soon as we reach the depot all will be well. The 

 surface in the afternoon improved, and is much better 

 than we had hoped for. The temperature is plus 24° 

 Fahr., fine and warm. A heavy day's pull, but we were 

 assisted by the wind in the afternoon. Wild is still 

 seedy, just walking in harness. The surface is good, 

 and we are rapidly nearing the depot. Short of food, 

 down to twenty ounces a day. Very tired. Good 

 weather. 



January 31. — Started at 7 a.m., Wild bad with 

 dysentery. Picked up mound 4 p.m., and camped at 6 

 p.m. Very bad surface. Did 13^ miles. 



February 1. — Started 7 a.m.; awful surface at times. 

 Wild very bad. Picked up mound. Camped 6 p.m., 

 having done nearly 14 miles. 



February 2. — Started at 6.40 a.m. and camped 

 7 p.m. at depot. Wild and self dysentery; dead tired, 

 bad surface, with undulations. Did 13^ miles. Ray's 



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