LAYING THE DEPOTS 
" March 16, Thursday —JJ-p before the sun, 4.45 a.m. Had 
a very cold night, not much sleep. Under way early. Going 
good. Passed Smith's grave 10.45 a.m. and had lunch at depot. 
Saw Skipper's camp just after, and looking through glass found 
him outside tent, much to the joy of all hands, as we ex- 
pected him to be down. Picked him up 4.15 p.m. Broke the 
news of Smith's death and no ship. I gave him the date of 
the 17th to look out for our returning, so he had a surprise. 
We struck his camp and went north for about a mile and 
camped. We gave the Sldpper a banquet of seal, vegetables, 
and black cm-rant jam, the feed of his life. He seems in a bad 
way. I hope to get him in in three days, and I think fresh 
food will improve him. We turned in 8 o'clock. Distance 
done during day sixteen miles. 
March 17, Friday,— JJp at 5 o'clock. Under way 8 a.m. 
Skipper feeling much better after feeding him up. Lunched 
a few yards past Smith's grave. Had a good afternoon, going 
fair. Distance about sixteen miles. Very cold night, tempera- 
ture — 30° Fahr. What with wet bags and clothes, rotten. 
" March 18, Saturday, — Turned out 5 o'clock. Had rather a 
cold night. Teniperatm-e — 29° Fahr. Sm-face very good. The 
Skipper walked for a little way, which did him good. Lunched 
as usual. Pace good. After lunch going good. Aii'ived at 
Safety Camp 4.10 p.m. To our delight found the sea-ice in the 
same condition and arrived at Hut Point at 7 o'clock. Found 
Hayward still about same. Set to, made a good dinner, and 
all hands seem in the best of spirits. Now we have arrived and 
got the party in, it remains to themselves to get better. Plenty 
of exercise and fresh food ought to do miracles. We have been 
out 160 days, and done a distance of 1561 miles, a good record. 
I think the irony of fate was poor Smith going under a day 
before we got in. I think we shall all soon be well. Turned 
in 10.30 p.m. Before turning in Skipper shook us by the hand 
with great emotion, thanking us for saving his life." 
Richards, summarizing the work of the parties, says that 
the journeys made between September 1 and March 18, a period 
of 160 days, totalled 1561 miles. The main journey, from Hut 
Point to Mount Hope and return, was 830 miles. The equip- 
297 
