I9XI] THE PONIES ON THE FLOE 195 
back to Hut Point with Wilson and Meares and started 
with my sledge, Crean, and Oates for the scene of the 
mishap. We stopped at Safety Camp to load some 
provisions and oil and then, marching carefully round, 
approached the ice edge. To my joy I caught sight of the 
lost party. We got our Alpine rope and with its help 
dragged the two men to the surface. I pitched camp 
at a safe distance from the edge and then we all started 
salvage work. The ice had ceased to drift and lay close 
and quiet against the Barrier edge. We got the men at 
5.30 p.m. and all the sledges and effects on to the Barrier 
by 4 a.m. As we were getting up the last loads the ice 
showed signs of drifting off, and we saw it was hopeless to 
try and move the ponies. The three poor beasts had to 
be left on their floe for the moment, well fed. None of 
our party had had sleep the previous night and all were 
dog tired. I decided we must rest, but turned everyone 
out at 8.30 yesterday morning. Before breakfast we dis- 
covered the ponies had drifted away. We had tried to 
anchor their floe with the Alpine rope, but the anchors had 
drawn. It was a sad moment. At breakfast we decided 
to pack and follow the Barrier edge : this was the position 
when I last wrote, but the interruption came when Bowers, 
who had taken the binoculars, announced that he could 
see the ponies about a mile to the N.W. We packed and 
went on at once. We found it easy enough to get down 
to the poor animals and decided to rush them for a last 
chance of life. Then there was an unfortunate mistake : 
I went along the Barrier edge and discovered what I 
thought and what proved to be a practicable way to land 
