CHAPTER XIX

The Return from the Pole

Friday, January 19.—­Lunch 8.1, T. -22.6 deg..  Early in the march we picked up a Norwegian cairn and our outward tracks.  We followed these to the ominous black flag which had first apprised us of our predecessors’ success.  We have picked this flag up, using the staff for our sail, and are now camped about 1 1/2 miles further back on our tracks.  So that is the last of the Norwegians for the present.  The surface undulates considerably about this latitude; it was more evident to-day than when we were outward bound.

Night camp R. 2. [37] Height 9700.  T. -18.5 deg., Minimum -25.6 deg..  Came along well this afternoon for three hours, then a rather dreary finish for the last 1 1/2.  Weather very curious, snow clouds, looking very dense and spoiling the light, pass overhead from the S., dropping very minute crystals; between showers the sun shows and the wind goes to the S.W.  The fine crystals absolutely spoil the surface; we had heavy dragging during the last hour in spite of the light load and a full sail.  Our old tracks are drifted up, deep in places, and toothed sastrugi have formed over them.  It looks as though this sandy snow was drifted about like sand from place to place.  How account for the present state of our three day old tracks and the month old ones of the Norwegians?

It is warmer and pleasanter marching with the wind, but I’m not sure we don’t feel the cold more when we stop and camp than we did on the outward march.  We pick up our cairns easily, and ought to do so right through, I think; but, of course, one will be a bit anxious till the Three Degree Depot is reached. [38] I’m afraid the return journey is going to be dreadfully tiring and monotonous.

Saturday, January 20.—­Lunch camp, 9810.  We have come along very well this morning, although the surface was terrible bad—­9.3 miles in 5 hours 20 m.  This has brought us to our Southern Depot, and we pick up 4 days’ food.  We carry on 7 days from to-night with 55 miles to go to the Half Degree Depot made on January 10.  The same sort of weather and a little more wind, sail drawing well.

Night Camp R. 3. 9860.  Temp. -18 deg..  It was blowing quite hard and drifting when we started our afternoon march.  At first with full sail we went along at a great rate; then we got on to an extraordinary surface, the drifting snow lying in heaps; it clung to the ski, which could only be pushed forward with an effort.  The pulling was really awful, but we went steadily on and camped a short way beyond our cairn of the 14th.  I’m afraid we are in for a bad pull again to-morrow, luckily the wind holds.  I shall be very glad when Bowers gets his ski; I’m afraid he must find these long marches very trying with short legs, but he is an undefeated little sportsman.  I think Oates is feeling the cold and fatigue more than most of us.  It is blowing pretty hard to-night, but with a good march we have earned one good hoosh and are very comfortable in the tent.  It is everything now to keep up a good marching pace; I trust we shall be able to do so and catch the ship.  Total march, 18 1/2 miles.