on our old pony-tracks.  There is a critical spot here with a long stretch between cairns.  If we can tide that over we get on the regular cairn route, and with luck should stick to it; but everything depends on the weather.  We never won a march of 8 1/2 miles with greater difficulty, but we can’t go on like this.  We are drawing away from the land and perhaps may get better things in a day or two.  I devoutly hope so.

Wednesday, February 22.—­R. 36.  Supper Temp. -2 deg..  There is little doubt we are in for a rotten critical time going home, and the lateness of the season may make it really serious.  Shortly after starting to-day the wind grew very fresh from the S.E. with strong surface drift.  We lost the faint track immediately, though covering ground fairly rapidly.  Lunch came without sight of the cairn we had hoped to pass.  In the afternoon, Bowers 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 we 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 we 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 deg.; Supper Temp. -12 deg..  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 confirmed it, and our spirits rose accordingly.  This afternoon we marched on and picked up another cairn; then on and camped only 2 1/2 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.

Friday, February 24.—­Lunch.  Beautiful day—­too beautiful—­an hour after starting loose ice crystals spoiling surface.  Saw depot and reached it middle forenoon.  Found store in order except shortage oil_26_—­shall have to be very saving with fuel—­otherwise have ten full days’ provision from to-night and shall have less than 70 miles to go.  Note from Meares who passed through December 15, saying surface bad; from Atkinson, after fine marching (2