wo kindred spirits, were not present at
"roll-call".

On September 3, McLean, Whetter and Close took more provisions to
Aladdin's Cave. They reported light drift and wind on the highlands,
while at sea-level it was clear and calm.

The sea-ice was by then thick and safe. About half a mile off shore a
very successful dredging was made in fifty fathoms; the bottom at this
depth simply teemed with life. At first, the dredge, rope-coils, tub,
picks and other necessary implements were dragged about on a sledge, but
the sledge was hauled only with great difficulty and much exertion over
the sticky, new sea-ice. As a substitute a portable, steel handcart was
advantageously employed, although, owing to its weight, tide-cracks
and rotten areas had to be crossed at a run. On one occasion a flimsy
surface collapsed under it, and Hunter had a wetting before it was
hauled on to firmer ice.

On September 4 there was a cloud radiant from the northwest, indicative
of a change in the weather. Ninnis, Mertz and Murphy transported more
food-bags and kerosene to Aladdin's Cave. They found Franklin one and a
half miles south of the Hut lying on the ice quite well, but there was
no sign of Scott. Both dogs were seen on the 1st of the month, when they
were in a locality south-east of the Hut, where crevasses were numerous.
It seemed most probable that Scott had lost his life in one of them. The
party visiting the Cave reported a considerable amount of snow drifting
above a level of one thousand feet.

There was another day of successful dredging, and, about four o'clock,
while several men were still out on the ice, whirlies with great columns
of drift came steadily down the glacier, pouring over the seaward
cliffs. In a few minutes the snow-clouds were round the Hut and the wind
was not long in working up to eighty miles per hour. The dredging party
reached the land just in time; and the sea-ice drifted away to the
north. Thus ended one of the most remarkable periods of fine weather
experienced by us in Adelie Land, only to be excelled in the height of
summer.

The possibility of such a spell being repeated fired us with the hope
that after all a reasonable amount of sledging could be accomplished
in the spring. Three parties were chosen to reconnoitre in different
directions and to test the sledging gear. As we were far from being
confident in the weather, I made it clear that no party should penetrate
farther than fifty miles from the