i8o 
SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION 
[February 
We had been actually travelling along the bridge of a 
crevasse, the sledge had stopped on it, whilst the dogs hung 
in their harness in the abyss, suspended between the 
sledge and the leading dog. Why the sledge and ourselves 
didn't follow the dogs we shall never know. I think a 
fraction of a pound of added weight must have taken us 
down. As soon as we grasped the position, we hauled 
the sledge clear of the bridge and anchored it. Then we 
peered into the depths of the crack. The dogs were howl- 
ing dismally, suspended in all sorts of fantastic positions 
and evidently terribly frightened. Two had dropped out 
of their harness, and we could sec them indistinctly on a 
snow Bridge far below. The rope at either end of the 
chain had bitten deep into the snow at the side of the 
crevasse, and with the weight below, it was impossible 
to move it. By this time Wilson and Cherry-Garrard, 
who had seen the accident, had come to our assistance. 
At first things looked very bad for our poor team, and I 
saw little prospect of rescuing them. I had luckily 
inquired about the Alpine rope before starting the march, 
and now Cherry-Garrard hurriedly brought this most 
essential aid. It takes one a little time to make plans 
under such sudden circumstances, and for some minutes 
our efforts were rather futile. We could get not an inch 
on the main trace of the sledge or on the leading rope, 
which was binding Osman to the snow with a throttling 
pressure. Then thought became clearer. We unloaded 
our sledge, putting in safety our sleeping-bags with the 
tent and cooker. Choking sounds from Osman made it 
clear that the pressure on him must soon be relieved. I 
