ted. Despite the
delay, our day's run was sixteen and a half miles.

At 8 A.M. on the 23rd everything was in readiness for a fresh start.
Moderate drift and wind descended from the hills and there were yet
three miles of hidden perils to be passed. With the object of making our
advance less dangerous, various devices were employed.

First of all the towing rope of the rear sledge was secured to the back
of the preceding sledge. This arrangement had to be abandoned because
the dogs of Ninnis's team persisted in entangling themselves and working
independently of the dogs in front. Next, all the sledges were joined
together with all the dogs pulling in front. The procession was then so
long that it was quite unmanageable on account of the tortuous nature
of our track through the labyrinth. In the long run, it was decided that
our original method was the best, provided that special precautions were
taken over the more hazardous crossings.

The usual procedure was, that the forerunner selected the best crossing
of a crevasse, testing it with a ski-stick. The dog teams were then
brought up to the spot and the forerunner went over the snow-bridge and
stood on the other side, sufficiently far away to allow the first team
to cross to him and to clear the crevasse. Then the second team was
piloted to safety before the forerunner had resumed his position in
front. This precaution was very necessary, for otherwise the dogs in the
rear would make a course direct for wherever the front dogs happened
to be, cutting across corners and most probably dragging their sledge
sideways into a crevasse; the likeliest way to lose it altogether.

Often enough the dogs broke through the snow-bridges on the morning
of the 23rd, but only once were matters serious, when Ninnis's sledge,
doubtless on account of its extra weight, again broke through a lid of
snow and was securely jammed in a crevasse just below the surface.

On this occasion we were in a serious predicament, for the sledge was
in such a position that an unskilful movement would have sent it hurling
into the chasm below. So the unpacking of the load was a tedious and
delicate operation. The freight consisted chiefly of large, soldered
tins, packed tightly with dried seal meat. Each of these weighed about
ninety pounds and all were most securely roped to the sledge. The sledge
was got up and reloaded without the loss of a single tin, and once more
we breathed freely.

A valley alm