19") A FEARFUL STRUGGLE 501 
their stops, but this proved altogether too much for us, so 
I forged ahead and camped at I p.m., as the others were 
far astern. During lunch I decided to try the io-fcet 
runners under the crossbars and we spent three hours in 
securing them. There was no delay on account of the 
slow progress of the other parties. Evans passed us, and 
for some time went forward fairly well up a decided slope. 
The sun was shining on the surface by this time, and the 
temperature high. Bowers started after Evans, and it was 
easy to see the really terrible state of affairs with them. 
They made desperate efforts to get along, but ever got 
more and more bogged — evidently the glide had vanished. 
When we got away we soon discovered how awful the 
surface had become ; added to the forenoon difficulties 
the snow had become wet and sticky. We got our load 
along, soon passing Bowers, but the toil was simply awful. 
We were soaked with perspiration and thoroughly breath- 
less with our efforts. Again and again the sledge got one 
runner on harder snow than the other, canted on its side, 
and refused to move. At the top of the rise I found Evans 
educed to relay work, and Bowers followed his example 
soon after. We got our whole load through till 7 p.m., 
camping time, but only with repeated halts and labour 
which was altogether too strenuous. The other parties 
certainly cannot get a full load along on the surface, and 
I much doubt if we could continue to do so, but we must 
try again to-morrow. 
I suppose we have advanced a bare 4 miles to-day and 
the aspect of things is very little changed. Our height is 
now about 1,500 feet ; I had pinned my faith on getting 
