“We have some biscuit-crumbs in the bag and that is all.  Our start was made under most bitter circumstances, all of us being attacked by frost-bites.  It was an effort to bare hands for an instant.  After much rubbing and ‘bringing back’ of extremities we started.  Wild is a mass of bites, and we are all in a bad way.  We plugged on, but warmth would not come into our bodies.  We had been pulling about two hours when Joyce’s smart eyes picked up a flag.  We shoved on for all we were worth, and as we got closer, sure enough, the cases of provisions loomed up.  Then what feeds we promised to give ourselves.  It was not long before we were putting our gastronomic capabilities to the test.  Pemmican was brought down from the depot, with oatmeal to thicken it, as well as sugar.  While Wild was getting the Primus lighted he called out to us that he believed his ear had gone.  This was the last piece of his face left whole—­nose, cheeks, and neck all having bites.  I went into the tent and had a look.  The ear was a pale green.  I quickly put the palm of my hand to it and brought it round.  Then his fingers went, and to stop this and bring back the circulation he put them over the lighted Primus, a terrible thing to do.  As a result he was in agony.  His ear was brought round all right, and soon the hot hoosh sent warmth tingling through us.  We felt like new beings.  We simply ate till we were full, mug after mug.  After we had been well satisfied, we replaced the cases we had pulled down from the depot and proceeded towards the Gap.  Just before leaving Joyce discovered a note left by Spencer-Smith and Richards.  This told us that both the other parties had returned to the Hut and apparently all was well.  So that is good.  When we got to the Barrier-edge we found the ice-cliff on to the newly formed sea-ice not safe enough to bear us, so we had to make a detour along the Barrier-edge and, if the sea ice was not negotiable, find a way up by Castle Rock.  At 7 p.m., not having found any suitable place to descend to the sea-ice we camped.  To-night we have the Primus going and warming our frozen selves.  I hope to make Hut Point to-morrow.”

Mackintosh and his companions broke camp on the morning of March 25, with the thermometer recording 55° of frost, and, after another futile search for a way down the ice-cliff to the sea-ice, they proceeded towards Castle Rock.  While in this course they picked up sledge-tracks, and, following these, they found a route down to the sea-ice.  Mackintosh decided to depot the sledge on top of a well-marked undulation and proceed without gear.  A short time later the three men, after a scramble over the cliffs of Hut Point, reached the door of the hut.