chapter ^mtydtu 



THE FINAL STAGE 



'EBRUARY 23.— Started at 6.45 a.m. in splendid 



x weather, and at 11 a.m., while halting for a spell, 

 Wild saw the Bluff Depot miraged up. It seemed to be 

 quite close, and the flags were waving and dancing as 

 though to say, " Come, here I am, come and feed." 

 It was the most cheerful sight our eyes have ever seen, 

 for we had only a few biscuits left. These we at once 

 devoured. The Grisi meat had given Wild renewed 

 dysentery. After a short camp we pushed on. A flash- 

 ing light appeared to be on the depot, and when we 

 reached it at 4 p.m., this turned out to be a biscuit tin, 

 which had been placed in the snow so as to catch the 

 light of the sun. It was like a great cheerful eye twink- 

 ling at us. The depot had appeared much closer than 

 it really was, because we were accustomed to judging 

 from the height of an ordinary depot, whereas this one 

 was built on a snow mound over 10 ft. high, with two 

 bamboos lashed together on top, and three flags. It 

 was a splendid mark. Joyce and his party have done 

 their work well. Now we are safe as regards food, and 

 it only remains for us to reach the ship. I climbed 

 up on top of the depot, and shouted out to those below 

 of the glorious feeds that awaited us. First, I rolled 

 down three tins of biscuits, then cases containing luxuries 

 of every description, many of them sent by friends. 

 There were Carlsbad plums, eggs, cakes, plum 

 puddings, gingerbread and crystallized fruit, even 

 fresh boiled mutton from the ship. After months of 



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