i9»] A GLOOMY PROSPECT 577 
being sure we were too far to the west, steered out. 
Result, we have passed another pony camp without 
seeing it. Looking at the map to-night there is no doubt 
we are too far to the east. With clear weather we ought 
to be able to correct the mistake, but will the weather get 
clear ? It's a gloomy position, more especially as one 
sees the same difficulty returning even when wc have 
corrected the error. The wind is dying down to-night and 
the sky clearing in the south, which is hopeful. Meanwhile 
it is satisfactory to note that such untoward events fail 
to damp the spirit of the party. To-night wc had a pony 
hoosh so excellent and filling that one feels really strong 
and vigorous again. 
Thursday > February 23. — R. 37. Lunch Temp. -9*8° ; 
Supper Temp. -12 0 . Started in sunshine, wind almost 
dropped. Luckily Bowers took a round of angles and 
with help of the chart we fogged out that we must be 
inside rather than outside tracks. The data were so 
meagre that it seemed a great responsibility to march 
out and we were none of us happy about it. But just as 
we decided to lunch, Bowers' wonderful sharp eyes detected 
an old double lunch cairn, the theodolite telescope con- 
firmed it, and our spirits rose accordingly. This afternoon 
we marched on and picked up another cairn ; then on and 
camped only z\ miles from the depot. We cannot see it, 
but, given fine weather, we cannot miss it. We are, 
therefore, extraordinarily relieved. Covered 8'2 miles 
in 7 hours, showing we can do 10 to 12 on this surface. 
Things are again looking up, as we are on the regular line 
of cairns, with no gaps right home, I hope. 
VOL. I. 2 P 
