LAYING THE DEPOTS 
I don't think there has been a party, either north or south, in 
such straits, three men down and three of us very weak ; but 
the dogs seem to have new hfe since we turned north. I think 
they reahze they are homeward bound. I am glad we kept 
them, even when we were starving. I knew they would have 
to come in at the finish. We have now to look forward to 
southerly winds for help, which I think we shall get at this 
time of year. Let us hope the temperature will keep up, as 
our sleeping-bags are wet through and worn out, and all our 
clothes full of holes, and finneskoe in a dilapidated condition ; 
in fact, one would not be out on a cold day in civilization with 
the rotten clothes we have on. Turned in 11 o'clock, wet 
through, but in a better frame of mind. Hope to try and 
reach the depot to-morrow, even if we have to march over- 
time. 
"March 1, Wednesday.— Hmmdi out usual time; a good 
south wind, but, worse luck, heavy drift. Set sail ; put the 
Skipper on rear sledge. The temperature has gone down and 
it is very cold. BlufE in sight. We are making good progress, 
doing a good mileage before lunch. After lunch a httle stronger 
wind. Hayward still hanging on to sledge ; Skipper fell off 
twice. Reached depot 5.45. When camping found we had 
dropped our tent-poles, so Richards went back a little way and 
spotted them through the binoculars about half a mile off, and 
brought them back. Hayward and I were very cold by that 
time, the drift very bad. Moral : See everything properly 
secured. We soon had our tent up, cooked our dinner in the 
dark, and turned in about 10 o'clock. 
^ ''March 2, Thursday. ^-A]^ as usual. Strong south-west 
wind with heavy drift. Took two weeks' provisions from the 
depot. I think that will last us through, as there is another 
depot about fifty miles north from here ; I am taking the out- 
side course on account of the crevasses, and one cannot take 
too many chances with two men on sledges and one crippled. 
Under way about 10 o'clock ; lunched noon in a heavy drift ; 
took an hour to get the tents up, etc., the wind being so heavy.' 
Found sledges buried under snow after lunch, took some time 
to get under way. Wind and drift very heavy ; set half-sail 
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