THE HEART OF THE ANTARCTIC 



from falling off the narrow causeway, while we all three 

 pulled for all we were worth. In another minute or two 

 we were safely across with our sledge, thankful that we 

 had now surmounted the last obstacle that intervened 

 between us and our depot. 



While heading for the depot we sighted an Emperor 

 penguin close to our track. Mackay quickly slew him, 

 and took his flesh and liver for our cooldng-pot. Two 

 miles further on we camped. Mawson minced the 

 Emperor's flesh and liver, and after adding a little 

 snow, I boiled it over our Primus so as to make one and 

 a half pots of soupy mincemeat for each of us. This was 

 the most satisfying meal we had had for many a long 

 day. After lunch we sledged on for over one and a half 

 miles further towards the depot, and at about 10.30 p.m. 

 reached an ice mound on the south side of the inlet 

 in which the snow canon terminated seawards. This 

 camping spot was a little over a mile distant from our 

 depot. We were now all thoroughly exhausted and 

 decided to camp. The spot we had selected seemed 

 specially suitable, as from the adjacent ice mound we 

 could get a good view of the ocean beyond the Dry- 

 galski Barrier. While Mawson and I got up the tent, 

 Mackay went to kill a seal at the shore of the inlet. 

 He soon returned with plenty of seal meat and liver. 

 He said that he had found two young seals, and had 

 killed one of them; that they had both behaved in a 

 most unusual manner, scuttling away quickly and 

 actively at his approach, instead of waiting without 

 moving, as did most of the Weddell seals of which we 

 had hitherto had experience. We discovered later 

 that these two seals belonged to the comparatively 

 rare variety known as Ross seal. After a delicious 

 meal of seal blubber, blood and oil, with fried meat and 

 liver, cooked by Mawson, Mawson and I turned into 



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