off we have to get everything ready before we attempt to move the tent, as it is impossible for our leader now to stand, therefore it is necessary to get him ready before we start.  We then pull the sledge alongside his bag and lift him on to it and strap him on.  It is a painful piece of work and he takes it pretty well, but we can’t help hurting him, as it is very awkward to lift him, the snow being soft and the light so bad, but he dont complain.  The only thing we hear him grind his teeth.

    14th February 1912.

Another good start after the usual preparation, we have not got much to pack, but it takes us some time, to get our invalid ready, the surface is very bad and our progress is very slow, but we have proposed to go longer hours and try to cover the distance, that is if we can stick it ourselves.

    15th February 1912.

We started in fine weather this morning, but it soon came over thick and progress became slow.  We had to continually consult the compass, as we have had no wind to assist us, but after awhile the sun peeped out and the wind sprang up and we were able to set sail, which helped us put in a good march.

    16th February 1912.

To-day it have been a very heavy drag all day, and the light is very bad, but we had the pleasure of seeing Castle Rock and Observation Hill.  We uncovered Mr. Evans to let him have a look and we have reduced our ration now to one half as it is impossible for us to reach Hut Point under four days, that is if everything goes favourable with us.

    17th February 1912.

To-day it has been thick, this morning soon after we started we saw what we thought was the dog tent [the two dog-teams going out to meet the Polar Party], a thing we had been looking for to try and get relief, but when we came up to it we found it was only a piece of biscuit box stuck on an old camp for a guide.  It shows how deceiving the things here are.  I can tell you our hopes were raised, but on reaching it they dropped again considerably.  We were able to see the land occasionally, and during one of the breaks this afternoon we spotted the motor.  Oh, what joy!  We again uncovered Mr. Evans to let him have a look and after trudging along for another three hours we brought up alongside it and camped for the night.  We are now only a little over 30 miles from Hut Point:  if we could only see the dogs approaching us, but they, we think, may have passed us while the weather have been thick.  Mr. Evans is getting worse every day, we are almost afraid to sleep at night as he seems very weak.  If the temperature goes much lower it will be a job to keep him warm.  We have found some biscuits here at the motor but nothing else, but that will assist greatly on our way.  The slogging have been heavy all day.  We are pretty tired to-night.  I dont think we have got the go in us we had, but we must try and push on.