34 
SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [July 
another, and all led to further impasses until the day- 
light was two-thirds gone, and we found ourselves faced 
in a large snow hollow by a chaotic pile of ice blocks and 
snowdrifts standing almost vertically in our path and all 
round us, to a height of some sixty feet, and completely 
stopping all chance of progress forward [a great cul-de-sac 
which probably formed the end of the two ridges, where 
they butted on to the sea ice]. Here we had the 
mortification of hearing the cries of Emperor penguins 
echoed to us by the rock cliffs on our left. We 
were still, however, out of sight of the rookery and 
we had still a quarter of a mile of chaotic pressure 
to cross [to be caught in the night there was a 
horrible idea], so we reluctantly gave up the attempt 
for the day and with great caution and much difficulty 
owing to the failing light retraced the steps it had taken 
us about three hours to make. We had been roped 
together the whole time and had used the sledge con- 
tinually over soft and rotten-looking snow bridges. It 
was dark by the time we reached safe ground after 
clambering about five hours to no purpose. [Birdie was 
very good at picking the tracks up again. At last we lost 
them altogether and settled we must go ahead. As a matter 
of fact we picked them up again, and by then were out 
of the worst ; but we were glad to see the tent again.] 
During the day a light southerly breeze had been 
blowing with a clear sky. The temp, had varied from 
- 30^ with south-westerly wind of force 2 at 4 p.m. to 
-37'', which had been the minimum in the early morning 
between 3 a.m. and 9.30 a.m. 
