i9i2] A CRITICAL TIME 541 
we get along. I did manage to get my thoughts off the 
work for a time to-day, which is very restful. We should 
be in a poor way without our ski, though Bowers manages 
to struggle through the soft snow without tiring his 
short legs. 
Only 51 miles from the Pole to-night. If we don't get 
to it we shall be d d close. There is a little southerly 
breeze to-night ; I devoutly hope it may increase in force. 
The alternation of soft snow and sastrugi seem to suggest 
that the coastal mountains are not so very far away. 
Sunday, January 14. — Camp 66. Lunch T. - 18 0 , 
Night T. -1 5 0 . Sun showing mistily through overcast 
sky all day. Bright southerly wind with very low drift. 
In consequence the surface was a little better, and we 
came along very steadily 6*3 miles in the morning and 5*5 
in the afternoon, but the steering was awfully difficult 
and trying ; very often I could see nothing, and Bowers 
on my shoulders directed me. Under such circumstances 
it is an immense help to be pulling on ski. To-night it 
is looking very thick. The sun can barely be distinguished, 
the temperature has risen, and there are serious indications 
of a blizzard. I trust they will not come to anything ; 
there are practically no signs of heavy wind here, so 
that even if it blows a little we may be able to march. 
Meanwhile we are less than 40 miles from the Pole, 
Again we noticed the cold ; at lunch to-day (Obs. : Lat. 
89 0 20' 53" S.) all our feet were cold, but this was mainly 
due to the bald state of our finncsko. I put some grease 
under the bare skin and found it made all the difference. 
Oates seems to be feeling the cold and fatigue more than 
