very bad indeed, we are travelling now on our own, I am leading and telling him the course I am steering, that is the different marks on the mountains, but we shall keep on this ridge for some distance yet.  After lunch to-day we did not proceed far before we decided to camp, the surface being so bad and Mr. Evans’ eyes so bad, we thought it would do us all good to have a rest.  Last night we left a note for Capt.  Scott, but did not say much about our difficulties just above the Cloudmaker, as it would be better to tell him when we see him.

    20th January 1912.

We did not get away very smart to-day, but as we found the surface very soft, we decided to go on ski.  Mr. Evans is still suffering with his eyes and badly, after getting his ski on we tied him on to the trace so that he could help to drag a bit, when we were troubling about the ridges we came over on our outward Journey, but strange to say we never encountered any ridges at all and the surface, although very soft, was the best I have ever sledged over ever since I have been at it.  We fancied on our left or to the west we saw what we took to be the ridges what we seem to have missed altogether, although Mr. Evans have been blind and could not see anything at all we have made splendid progress and covered at least 20 miles, as near as we can guess.  We passed to-day one of the Doctor’s homeward bound camps, and kept on their track for some time, but finally lost it.  We are camped to-night and we all feel confident we shall, if the weather remains good, reach the depot to-morrow night.

    21st January 1912.

Sunday:  We started off as usual, again on ski, the weather again being favourable.  Mr. Evans’ eyes is still bad, but improving.  It will be a good job when they are better.  I picked up our outward bound course soon after we started this morning and asked Mr. Evans if I should try and keep it, as it will save him the trouble of directing me, and another thing we came out without going through any crevasses and I have noticed a good many crevasses to-day what seems to be very dangerous ones, and on two occasions where our sledges [on the outward journey] had gone over, two of the crevasses had fallen through.  We accomplished the journey from the Cloudmaker to this depot in three days.  We all feel quite proud of our performance.  Mr. Evans is a lot better to-night and old Tom is giving us a song while he is covering up the tent with snow.  We have re-arranged the depot and left our usual note for Capt.  Scott, wishing them a speedy return.  To-morrow we hope to see and reach the Barrier, and be clear of the Beardmore for ever.  We none of us minds the struggle we have been through to attain the amount of success so far reached.  It is all for the good of science, as Crean says.  We reached the depot at 6.45 P.M.

[Illustration:  FROM MOUNT KYFFIN TO MOUNT PATRICK—­E.  A. Wilson, del.  Emery Walker Limited, Collotypers.]