CHAPTER IV 
• ■ 
In August, with the gradual return of light, we were 
able to get about more and consequently took more 
exercise. A small ski slope was made running down 
from the rear of the Hut and also a small jump was fixed 
by Gran. On fine days there was a continual stream of 
men labouring slowly up the slope and making their way 
down again with varying success. The sea ice conditions 
still continued bad and there was some doubt now as to 
whether we should be able to make our way over the sea 
ice to Hut Point. 
On August 12 for the first time we saw the sun's rays 
on the summit of Erebus and the smoke rising from the 
crater was painted a beautiful pink. One of the diffi- 
culties that we had to encounter for the next sledging 
season was the lack of sledge meters. We had only one 
left, but Lashly, our handy man, was trying his hand at 
the manufacture of another under the direction of Nelson. 
By means of a bicycle wheel and the front fork of a bicycle 
we got our lead and wheel, while the register was made 
from the meter attached to the dynamo. This looked 
exceedingly promising, and after it had been used over 
short distances gave very good results eventually. On 
