THE MOVING GOAL 



balanced horizontal moving needle in his Brunton transit 

 instrument. 



January 12. — The sky to-day was overcast, the 

 night having been calm and cloudy. A few snow- 

 flakes and fine ice crystals were falling. The sun was 

 very hot and it somewhat softened the snow surface, 

 thereby increasing of course the difficulty of sledging. 

 We sledged to-day ten and three-quarter miles. 



The evening, after hoosh, Mawson, on carefully 

 analysing the results set forth in the advance copy 

 of the Discovery Expedition Magnetic Report, decided 

 that although the matter was not expressly so stated, 

 the Magnetic Pole, instead of moving easterly, as it had 

 done in the interval between Sabine's observations in 

 1841 and the time of the Discovery expedition in 1902. 

 was Kkely now to be travelling somewhat to the north- 

 west. The results of dip readings taken at intervals 

 earlier in the journey also agreed with this decision. 

 It would be necessary therefore to travel further in 

 that direction than we had anticipated in order to 

 reach our goal. This was extremely disquieting news, 

 for all of us as we had come almost to the limit of our 

 provisions, after making allowance for enough to take 

 us back on short rations to the coast. In spite of the 

 anxiety of the situation extreme weariness after sledg- 

 ing enabled us to catch some sleep. 



The following morning, January 13, we were up 

 about 6 A.M. A hght snow was falling, and fine ice 

 crystals made the sky hazy. There was a light wind 

 blowing from about south-south-east. About 8 a.m. 

 the sun peeped through with promise of a fine day. 

 We had had much discussion during and after break- 

 fast as to our future movements. The change in 

 the position of the Pole necessitated of course a 

 change in our plans. Mawson carefully reviewed his 



Vol. II.-12 177 



