'on] STEADY PLODDING 471 
beast. Reports on Chinaman are very favourable, and 
it really looks as though the ponies arc going to do what 
is hoped of them. 
Wednesday, November 22.— Camp 18. Everything 
much the same. The ponies thinner but not much weaker. 
The crocks still going along. Jehu is now called 4 The 
Barrier Wonder ' and Chinaman 1 The Thunderbolt.' Two 
days more and they will be well past the spot at which 
Shacklcton killed his first animal. Nobby keeps his 
pre-eminence of condition and has now the heaviest load 
by some 50 lbs. ; most of the others arc under 500 lbs. 
load, and I hope will be cased further yet. The dogs are 
in good form still, and came up well with their loads this 
morning (night temp. -1 -4°). It looks as though we 
ought to get through to the Glacier without great difficulty. 
The weather is glorious and the ponies can make the 
most of their rest during the warmest hours, but they 
certainly lose in one way by marching at night. The 
surface is much easier for the sledges when the sun is 
warm, and for about three hours before and after midnight 
the friction noticeably increases. It is just a question 
whether this extra weight on the loads is compensated by 
the resting temperature. We arc quite steady on the 
march now, and though not fast yet get through with few 
stops. The animals seem to be getting accustomed to 
the steady, heavy plod and take the deep places less 
fussily. There is rather an increased condition of false 
crust— that is, a crust which appears firm till the whole 
weight of the animal is put upon it, when it suddenly 
gives some three or four inches. This is very trying 
