SOUTH 
under most bitter circumstaDces, all of us being attacked by 
frost-bites. It was an effort to bare hands for an instant. After 
much rubbing and ' bringing back ' of extremities we started. 
Wild is a mass of bites, and we are all in a bad way. We 
plugged on, but warmth would not come into our bodies. We 
had been pulling about two hours when Joyce's smart eyes picked 
up a flag. We shoved on for all we were worth, and as we got 
closer, sure enough, the cases of provisions loomed up. Then w hat 
feeds we promised to give ourselves. It was not long before we 
were putting our gastronomic capabilities to the test. Pemmican 
was brought down from the depot, \m.th oatmeal to thicken it, 
as well as sugar. While Wild was getting the 'Primus lighted 
he called out to us that he believed his ear had gone. This 
was the last piece of his face left whole—nose, cheeks, and neck 
all having bites. I went into the tent and had a look. The 
ear was a pale green. I quickly put the palm of my hand to 
it and brought it romid. Then his fingers went, and to stop 
this and brmg back the circulation he put them over the lighted 
Primus, a terrible thing to do. As a result he was in agony. 
His ear was brought round all right, and soon the hot hoosh 
sent warmth tingUng through us. We felt hke new beings. 
We simply ate till we were full, mug after mug. After we had 
been well satisfied, we replaced the cases we had pidled down 
from the depot and proceeded towards the Gap. Just before 
leaving Joyce discovered a note left by Spencer-Smith and 
Eichards. This told us that both the other parties had returned 
to the Hut and apparently all was well. So that is good. 
When we got to the Barrier-edge we found the ice-cliff on to 
the newly formed sea-ice not safe enough to bear us, so we 
had to make a detour along the Barrier-edge and, if the sea-ice 
was not negotiable, find a way up by Castle Eock. At 7 p.m., 
not having found any suitable place to descend to the sea-ice, 
we camped. To-night we have the Primus going and warming 
our frozen selves. I hope to make Hut Point to-morrow." 
Mackintosh and his companions broke camp on the morning 
of March 25, with the thermometer recording 65° of frost, 
and, after another futile search for a way down the ice-cliff 
to the sea-ice, they proceeded towards Castle Rock. While in 
260 
