270 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [January 
big crack at the end of the tongue went farther east. We 
pulled over the glacier and down the slope past the seals 
without difficulty. Then on a little farther and saw a 
crack to our right. It seemed only about a foot wide, and 
I was testing this weak spot with the ski-stick, when the 
soft snow on which I was standing collapsed and I went 
into the water. Luckily I grabbed Deb's hand, and 
Forde and Gran got my harness. I was jerked out like a 
cork from a bottle and was never so near flying ! None 
saw the others pull, and they all thought I felt very light ! 
We plugged on to the east and came to the main wavy 
crack — an ugly blighter 30 feet across of mushy water. 
Luckily this also narrowed at the bend, and after some 
searching we pulled over him also. 
' I was getting jolly tired here. However, we could 
see our destination at last and so pushed on. A keen wind 
came up from the south-west and swept over the 100-foot 
glacier wall to the south, driving snow across our course. 
We crossed a little crack which Debenham thought was 
new since the snowfall ! To our left were many birds 
about a mile away and black patches of ominous appear- 
ance were showing. Debenham climbed on the sledge and 
was sure it was open water, and I agreed, but we couldn't 
do anything and pushed on. I got some relief for my 
blessed tired legs by marching a longer stride, and we 
plugged on hoping it would hold firm another hour. How- 
ever, at long length we began to see details in the 
never-ending glacier wall on our left — icicles, crevasses and 
snow-drifts — and at last could make out a feasible slope up 
on to the cape and felt safe. I had cramp from the pulling 
