146 British Antarctic Expedition. 
with steep slopes, formed by gravel rush from the 
porous volcanic rocks. They would be the only 
places of refuge in case a heavy screw should 
commence; but, unlike our situation at the gravel 
rush in Robertson Bay, here one would be entirely 
shut off from any chance of ascending the plateau, 
as the rock is either absolutely perpendicular or 
overhanging. Of course there were icebergs which 
might have offered us temporary shelter against heavy 
screw, but only a few of them were approachable, and 
in a sudden and general screw of the pack it would 
have been difficult to convey instruments and pro- 
visions to the top of these bergs. In the grey morning 
we made a light breakfast, harnessed our dogs, and 
started again, while a biting wind from the south 
descended the sides of the mountain. All metals stuck 
persistently to our fingers, and it was cold work before 
we had our travelling gear in working order again 
after camping. The track grew worse and worse ; 
we pulled, lifted, pushed and shouted to the willing 
dogs, and slowly our four sledges rubbed over the 
rough surface towards the south. Mr. Fougner soon 
reported that the slides of his sledge were entirely 
worn through, as the rough screwing of the ice in- 
creased, and a general investigation of all the slides 
proved that most of them were worn through, con- 
sequently we had to return to Camp Ridley, and 
probably we should not have reached far, as open 
water was sighted to the south. We left the dog- 
sledges where they stood, and started eastwards towards 
an iceberg which proved to be accessible, and from 
where a general view of the ice conditions was to 
be had. The loftiest pure white peaks of Victoria 
