LAYING THE DEPOTS 
trouble in getting the compass within 10^ on account of wind. 
During the forenoon had to stop every quarter of an hour on 
account of oux breath. Every time the sledge struck a drift 
she stuck in (although only 200 lb.), and in spite of three men 
and four dogs we could only shift her with the 1 — 2 — 3 haul. 
I wonder if this weather will ever clear up. Camped in an 
exhausted condition about 12.10. Lunch, half cup of weak tea 
and quarter biscuit, which took over half an hour to make. 
Eichards and Hayward went out of tent to prepare for getting 
under way, but the force of wind and snow drove them back. 
The force of wind is about seventy to eighty miles per hour. 
AVe decided to get the sleeping-bags in, which took some con- 
siderable time. The worst of camping is the poor dogs and 
our weak condition, which means we have to get out of our 
wet sleeping-bags and have another half cup of tea without 
working for it. With scrapings from dog-tank it is a very 
scanty meal. This is the second day the dogs have been 
without food, and if we cannot soon pick up depot and save 
the dogs it will be almost impossible to drag our two invalids 
back the one hundred miles which we have to go. The wind 
carried on with unabating fury until 7 o'clock, and then came 
a lull. We at once turned out, but found it snowing so thickly 
that it was impossible to proceed on account of our weakness. 
No chance must we miss. Turned in again. Wind sprang up 
again with heavy drift 8.30. In spite of everything my tent- 
mates are very cheerful and look on the bright side of every- 
thing. After a talk we decided to wait and turned in. It is 
really wonderful what dreams we have, especially of food. 
Trusting in Providence for fine weather to-morrow. 
" February 25, Friday. — -Turned out 4.45. Richards pre- 
pared our usual banquet, half cup of tea, quarter biscuit, which 
we rehshed. Under way at 7, carried on, halting every ten 
minutes or quarter of an hour. Weather, snowing and blowing 
same as yesterday. We are in a very weak state, but we cannot 
give in. We often talk about poor Captain Scott and the 
blizzard that finished him and party. If we had stayed in 
our tent another day I don't think we should have got under 
way at all, and we would have shared the same fate. But if 
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