bag, cooker, and tent poles on the ground.  The team stopped when they reached Dimitri’s team, and by then the gear was out of sight.  We went back for it, and made good 163/4 miles for the day on a splendid surface.  The sun went down at 11.15 (10.15 A.T.), miraged quite flat on top.  After he had gone down a great bonfire seemed to blaze out from the horizon.  Now -22 deg. and we use a candle for the first time.

“February 29.  Bluff Depot. If anybody had told me we could reach Bluff Depot, nearly ninety miles, in four days, I would not have believed it.  We have had a good clear day with much mirage.  Dogs a bit tired."[262]

The next three days’ run took us to One Ton.  On the day we left Bluff Depot, which had been made a little more than a year ago, when certain of the ponies were sent home on the Depot Journey,[263] but which no longer contained any provisions, we travelled 12 miles; there was a good light and it was as warm as could be expected in March.  The next day (March 2) we did 9 miles after a cold and sleepless night, -24 deg. and a mild blizzard from N.W. and quite thick.  On the night of March 3 we reached One Ton, heading into a strongish wind with a temperature of -24 deg..  These were the first two days on which we had cold weather, but it was nothing to worry about for us, and was certainly not colder than one could ordinarily have expected at this time of year.

Arrived at One Ton my first feeling was one of relief that the Polar Party had not been to the Depot and that therefore we had got their provisions out in time.  The question of what we were to do in the immediate future was settled for us; for four days out of the six during which we were at One Ton the weather made travelling southwards, that is against the wind, either entirely impossible or such that the chance of seeing another party at any distance was nil.  On the two remaining days I could have run a day farther South and back again, with the possibility of missing the party on the way.  I decided to remain at the Depot where we were certain to meet.

On the day after we arrived at One Ton (March 4) Dimitri came to me and said that the dogs ought to be given more food, since they were getting done and were losing their coats:  they had, of course, done a great deal of sledging already this year.  Dimitri had long experience of dog-driving and I had none.  I thought and I still think he was right.  I increased the dog ration therefore, and this left us with thirteen more days’ dog-food, including that for March 4.

The weather was bad when we were at One Ton, for when it was blowing the temperature often remained comparatively low, and when it was not blowing it dropped considerably, and I find readings in my diary of -34 deg. and -37 deg. at 8 P.M.  Having no minimum thermometer we did not know the night temperatures.  On the other hand I find an entry:  “To-day is the first real good one we have had, only about -10 deg.