30 p.m., taking
exactly three times as long to return with the boat as it did to pull
in the empty sledge to fetch it. On the return journey we had numerous
halts while the pioneer party of four were busy breaking down pressure-
ridges and filling in open cracks with ice-blocks, as the leads were
opening up. The sun had softened the surface a good deal, and in
places it was terribly hard pulling. Every one was a bit exhausted by
the time we got back, as we are not now in good training and are on
short rations. Every now and then the heavy sledge broke through the
ice altogether and was practically afloat. We had an awful job to
extricate it, exhausted as we were. The longest distance which we
managed to make without stopping for leads or pressure-ridges was about
three quarters of a mile.
"About a mile from Patience Camp we had a welcome surprise. Sir Ernest
and Hussey sledged out to meet us with dixies of hot tea, well wrapped
up to keep them warm.
"One or two of the men left behind had cut a moderately good track for
us into the camp, and they harnessed themselves up with us, and we got
in in fine style.
"One excellent result of our trip was the recovery of two cases of
lentils weighing 42 lbs. each."
The next day I sent Macklin and Crean back to make a further selection
of the gear, but they found that several leads had opened up during the
night, and they had to return when within a mile and a half of their
destination.
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