SOUTH 
and proceeded with a single sledge, Spencer-Smith lying on top 
of the stores and gear. The distance for the day was lo| miles. 
They picked up the 82° S. depot on February 3, and took one 
week's provisions, leaving two weeks' rations for the overland 
party. Joyce, Wild, Richards, and Hay ward were feeling fit. 
Mackintosh was lame and weak; Spencer-Smith's condition 
was alarming. The party was being helped by strong southerly 
winds, and the distances covered were decidedly good. The 
sledge-meter recorded 15 miles 1700 yds. on February 4, 17 
miles 1400 yds. on the 5th, 18 miles 1200 yds. on the 6th, and 
13 miles 1000 yds. on the 7th, when the 81° S. depot was picked 
up at 10.30 a.m., and one week's stores taken, two weeks' 
rations being left. 
The march to the next depot, at 80° S., was uneventful. 
The party made good marches in spite of bad surfaces and thick 
weather, and reached the depot late in the afternoon of Feb- 
ruary 12. The supply of stores at this depot was ample, and 
the men took a fortnight's rations (calculated on a three-man 
basis), leaving nearly four weeks' rations. Spencer-Smith 
seemed a Httle better, and all hands were cheered by the rapid 
advance. February 14, 15, and 16 were bad days, the soft 
surface allowing the men to sink to their knees at times. The 
dogs had a rough time, and the daily distances fell to about 
eight miles. Mackintosh's weakness was increasing. Then on the 
18th, when the party was within twelve miles of the Bluff depot, 
a furious blizzard made travelUng impossible. This blizzard 
raged for five days. Rations were reduced on the second day, 
and the party went on half-rations the third day. 
" Still blizzarding," wrote Joyce on the 20th. " Things are 
serious, what with our patient and provisions running short. 
Dog provisions are nearly out, and we have to halve their 
rations. We are now on one cup of hoosh among the three of 
us, with one biscuit and six lumps of sugar. The most serious 
of calamities is that our oil is running out. We have plenty of 
tea, but no fuel to cook it with." The men in Mackintosh's 
tent were in no better plight Mackintosh himself was in a 
bad way. He was uncertain about his ability to resume the 
march, but was determined to try." 
284 
