“February 25, Friday.—­Turned out 4.45.  Richards prepared our usual banquet, half cup of tea, quarter biscuit, which we relished.  Under way at 7, carried on, halting every ten minutes or quarter of an hour.  Weather, snowing and blowing same as yesterday.  We are in a very weak state, but we cannot give in.  We often talk about poor Captain Scott and the blizzard that finished him and party.  If we had stayed in our tent another day I don’t think we should have got under way at all, and we would have shared the same fate.  But if the worst comes we have made up our minds to carry on and die in harness.  If any one were to see us on trek they would be surprised, three men staggering on with four dogs, very weak; practically empty sledge with fair wind and just crawling along; our clothes are all worn out, finneskoe and sleeping bags torn.  Tent is our worst point, all torn in front, and we are afraid to camp on account of it, as it is too cold to mend it.  We camped for our grand lunch at noon.  After five hours’ struggling I think we did about three miles.  After lunch sat in our tent talking over the situation.  Decided to get under way again as soon as there is any clearance.  Snowing and blowing, force about fifty or sixty miles an hour.

“February 26, Saturday.—­Richards went out 1.10 a.m. and found it clearing a bit, so we got under way as soon as possible, which was 2.10 a.m.  About 2.35 Richards sighted depot, which seemed to be right on top of us.  I suppose we camped no more than three-quarters of a mile from it.  The dogs sighted it, which seemed to electrify them.  They had new life and started to run, but we were so weak that we could not go more than 200 yds. and then spell.  I think another day would have seen us off.  Arrived at depot 3.25; found it in a dilapidated condition, cases all about the place.  I don’t suppose there has ever been a weaker party arrive at any depot, either north or south.  After a hard struggle got our tent up and made camp.  Then gave the dogs a good feed of pemmican.  If ever dogs saved the lives of any one they have saved ours.  Let us hope they will continue in good health, so that we can get out to our comrades.  I started on our cooking.  Not one of us had any appetite, although we were in the land of plenty, as we call this depot; plenty of biscuit, etc., but we could not eat.  I think it is the reaction, not only in arriving here, but also finding no news of the ship, which was arranged before we left.  We all think there has been a calamity there.  Let us hope for the best.  We decided to have rolled-oats and milk for a start, which went down very well, and then a cup of tea.  How cheery the Primus sounds.  It seems like coming out of a thick London fog into a drawing-room.  After a consultation we decided to have a meal of pemmican in four hours, and so on, until our weakness was gone.  Later.—­Still the same weather.  We shall get under way and make a forced march back