THE HEART OF THE ANTARCTIC 



back for it. These odd belongings had to be tied with 

 bits of string on to the second sledge which we were 

 going to take with us on our northern journey, con- 

 sequently, by degrees, this sledge became hung over 

 with boots, crampons, and all sorts of what Day called 

 " gagdets." Murray, Brocklehurst and Armytage came 

 down on the ice to bid us a final farewell. Brocklehurst 

 took a photograph of us just before we started, 

 then Day, Priestley, Roberts, Mackay, Mawson and I 

 got aboard, some on the motor-car, some on the sledges. 

 Those remaining behind gave us three cheers. Day turned 

 on the power and away we went. A light wind was 

 blowing from the south-east at the time of our start, 

 bringing a httle snow with it and another bhzzard 

 seemed impending. 



After travelling a little over two miles, just 

 beyond Cape Barne, the snow had become so 

 thick that the coast-line was almost entirely hidden 

 from our view. Under these circumstances I did not 

 think it prudent to take the motor-car further, so 

 Mackay, Mawson and I bid adieu to our good friends. 

 Strapping on our harness we toggled on to the sledge 

 rope, and with a one, two, three, and away, pulled off 

 into the thick falling snow, which in a few minutes 

 blotted out all view of the motor-car in our rear. 

 As we slowly trudged along the signs of an approaching 

 blizzard became more pronounced and we bore somewhat 

 to our left so as to have Inaccessible Island as a lee under 

 which to run for shelter, but after a time, as the threat- 

 ened blizzard did not come up, we slewed our sledge more 

 to the right, away from Inaccessible Island, heading up 

 for our ten-mile depot. At last, towards evening Mackay 

 sighted the black flag over the depot about a mile 

 distant. 



We reached the depot about 7 p.m. and got up our 



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