He must have struck his back and head; the latter is contused and he is certainly suffering from slight concussion.  He complained of his back before he grew unconscious and groaned a good deal when moved in the hut.  He came to about an hour after getting to the hut, and was evidently in a good deal of pain; neither Atkinson nor Wilson thinks there is anything very serious, but he has not yet been properly examined and has had a fearful shock at the least.  I still feel very anxious.  To-night Atkinson has injected morphia and will watch by his patient.

Troubles rarely come singly, and it occurred to me after Clissold had been brought in that Taylor, who had been bicycling to the Turk’s Head, was overdue.  We were relieved to hear that with glasses two figures could be seen approaching in South Bay, but at supper Wright appeared very hot and said that Taylor was exhausted in South Bay—­he wanted brandy and hot drink.  I thought it best to despatch another relief party, but before they were well round the point Taylor was seen coming over the land.  He was fearfully done.  He must have pressed on towards his objective long after his reason should have warned him that it was time to turn; with this and a good deal of anxiety about Clissold, the day terminates very unpleasantly.

Tuesday, October 10.—­Still anxious about Clissold.  He has passed two fairly good nights but is barely able to move.  He is unnaturally irritable, but I am told this is a symptom of concussion.  This morning he asked for food, which is a good sign, and he was anxious to know if his sledging gear was being got ready.  In order not to disappoint him he was assured that all would be ready, but there is scarce a slender chance that he can fill his place in the programme.

Meares came from Hut Point yesterday at the front end of a blizzard.  Half an hour after his arrival it was as thick as a hedge.  He reports another loss—­Deek, one of the best pulling dogs, developed the same symptoms which have so unaccountably robbed us before, spent a night in pain, and died in the morning.  Wilson thinks the cause is a worm which gets into the blood and thence to the brain.  It is trying, but I am past despondency.  Things must take their course.

Forde’s fingers improve, but not very rapidly; it is hard to have two sick men after all the care which has been taken.

The weather is very poor—­I had hoped for better things this month.  So far we have had more days with wind and drift than without.  It interferes badly with the ponies’ exercise.

Friday, October 13.—­The past three days have seen a marked improvement in both our invalids.  Clissold’s inside has been got into working order after a good deal of difficulty; he improves rapidly in spirits as well as towards immunity from pain.  The fiction of his preparation to join the motor sledge party is still kept up, but Atkinson says there is not the smallest chance of his being ready.  I shall have to be satisfied if he practically recovers by the time we leave with the ponies.