THE STRAND MAGAZINE. 
IS 
CHERRY-GARRARD. BOWERS. 
THE BUNKS IN THE MAIN 
THIS PICTURE GIVES A VIVID IDEA OF THE MANNER 
A March Described. 
The regular march is 
thus described, under date 
of February ioth, between 
Camps 8 and 9 : “ We turn 
o’ it of our sleeping-bags 
about 9 p.m. Somewhere 
about 11.30 I shout to 
the soldier | i.e., Oates] : 
‘ How are things? ’ There 
is a response suggesting 
readiness, and soon after 
figures are busy amongst 
sledges and horses. It 
is chilling work for the 
fingers, and not too warm 
for the feet. The rugs 
come off the animals, the 
harness is put on, tents 
and camp equipment are 
lashed on the sledges, 
nose -bags filled for the 
next halt. One by one 
the animals are taken off 
the picket-rope and yoked 
to the sledges, Oates 
watches his animal warily, 
reluctant to keep such a 
nervous creature standing 
in the traces. If one is 
prompt one feels impatient 
and fretful whilst watch- 
ing one’s more tardy fel- 
lows. Wilson and Meares 
hang about ready to help 
with odds and ends. Still 
we wait ; the picketing 
lines must be gathered 
up, a few pony putties need adjustment, a 
party has been slow striking their tent. With 
numbed fingers on our horse’s bridle, and the 
animal striving to turn its head from the wind, 
one feels resentful. At last all is ready. 
One says, ‘ All right ; Bowers, go ahead,’ and 
Birdie [for such was his nickname] leads his 
big animal forward, starting, as he continues, 
at a steady pace. The horses have got cold, 
and at the word they are off, the soldier’s and 
one or two others, with a rush. Finnesko 
[fur boots] give a poor foothold on the slippery 
sastrugi, and for a minute or two drivers have 
some difficulty in maintaining the pace on 
their feet. Movement is warming, and in 
ten minutes the column has settled itself 
to steady marching. The pace is still brisk, 
the light bad, and at intervals one or another 
of us suddenly steps on a slippery patch and 
falls prone. These are the only real incidents 
of the march ; for the rest, it passes with a 
steady tramp and slight variation of forma- 
tion. The weaker ponies drop a bit, but not 
far, so that they are soon up in line again 
when the first halt is made. We have come to 
a single halt on each half-march. Last night 
it was too cold to stop long, and a very few 
minutes found us on the go again. 
“ As the end of the half-march approaches 
I get out my whistle. Then, at a ‘‘shrill 
blast, Bowers wheels slightly to the his 
tent-mates lead still farther out to get the 
distance for the picket-lines. Oates and I 
stop behind Bowers and Evans, the two 
other sledges of our squad behind the two 
others of Bowers’s. So we are drawn up in 
camp formation. The picket-lines are run 
across at right angles to the line of advance 
and secured to the two sledges at each end. 
In a few minutes ponies are on the lines 
