206 
SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION 
[February 
Finally we sledged along the ' lower storey ' below the 
glass-house surface — on the floor of the drained lakes ; 
twisting round ice pillars, pulling the sledges under sheets 
of projecting ice, lifting them over barriers. But it got 
worse instead of better, and at last I decided to return 
to the land and make our depot here instead of higher up 
the Koettlitz, as I had hoped to do. To reach the moraine 
we had to cross a sort of ^ rip ' where a strong deep current 
of water flowed northward. Along this seals used to 
appear and would stop to study our movements with some 
interest. 
This camp on the moraine marked the end of the third 
week. We celebrated it by killing a seal, and next day 
fried his liver. This was also a memorable day because, 
as someone remarked, I started cooking and we all lived 
through it ! 
I cut off a piece of the seal's belly-skin and sewed 
pieces over my worn-out boots. It wasn't a very neat job, 
for it was done with a marlin spike and waxed yarn — 
but as soon as I started walking the soft seal-skin changed 
to armour-plate, and when ultimately I wanted to remove 
these ' brogans ' I had to break them off with my geological 
hammer. 
We spent two days exploring the very interesting 
region behind the moraines. Long parallel valleys, each 
containing a dwindling valley glacier, led towards the 
scarp below the Royal Society Range. Thirteen thousand 
feet above us towered Mount Lister, but we rarely saw the 
crest, for it was buried in clouds for the greater part of 
our journey. 
