i9ii] A MOTOR MISHAP 429 
Clissold's work of cooking has fallen on Hooper and 
Lashly, and it is satisfactory to find that the various 
dishes and bread bakings maintain their excellence. It is 
splendid to have people who refuse to recognise difficulties. 
Tuesday, October 17. — Things not going very well ; with 
ponies all pretty well. Animals are improving in form 
rapidly, even Jehu, though I have ceased to count on that 
animal. To-night the motors were to be taken on to the 
floe. The drifts make the road very uneven, and the 
first and best motor overrode its chain ; the chain was 
replaced and the machine proceeded, but just short of the 
floe was thrust to a steep inclination by a ridge, and the 
chain again overrode the sprockets ; this time by ill 
fortune Day slipped at the critical moment and without 
intention jammed the throttle full on. The engine 
brought up, but there was an ominous trickle of oil under 
the back axle, and investigation showed that the axle 
casing (aluminium) had split. The casing has been 
stripped and brought into the hut ; we may be able to do 
something to it, but time presses. It all goes to show 
that we want more experience and workshops. 
I am secretly convinced that we shall not get much 
help from the motors, yet nothing has ever happened to 
them that was unavoidable. A little more care and 
foresight would make them splendid allies. The trouble 
is that if they fail, no one will ever believe this. 
Meares got back from Corner Camp at 8 a.m. Sunday 
morning — he got through on the telephone to report in 
the afternoon. He must have made the pace, which is 
promising for the dogs. Sixty geographical miles in two 
