we
got under way. We wished each other happier Christmases in the future,
and divided two scraps of biscuit which I found in my spare kit-bag;
relics of better days.

The surface was a moderately good one of undulating, hard sastrugi, and,
as the course had been altered to north-west, the southerly wind helped
us along. The sun shone brightly, and only for the wind and the low
drift we might have felt tolerably comfortable. On our right, down
within the shallow depression of the Ninnis Glacier, the low outline of
Dixson Island, forty miles to the north, could be seen miraged up on the
horizon.

The tent was raised at 9.30 A.M. after a run of eleven miles one hundred
and seventy-six yards. An ounce each of butter was served out from our
small stock to give a festive touch to the dog-stew.

At noon I took an observation for latitude, and, after taking a bearing
on to Dixson Island, computed that the distance in an air-line to Winter
Quarters was one hundred and sixty miles.

"December 26.--Got away at 2 A.M.; the surface undulating and hummocky
with occasional beds of soft snow. Sun shining, wind ranged between
thirty and forty miles per hour with much low drift; cold; camped about
noon having done ten miles five hundred and twenty-eight yards.

"We have reached the western side of the Ninnis Glacier. Ahead are
rising slopes, but we look forward to assistance from the wind in the
ascent.

"I was again troubled with a touch of snow-blindness, but it responded
to the usual treatment.

"At 11 P.M. we were at it again,but what with preparing dog-stew, packing
up within the limited area of the tent and experimenting with a sail, it
was five hours before the march commenced.

"The sail was the tent-cover, attached to the top of one ski lashed
vertically as a mast and secured below to the other ski, lashed across
the sledge as a boom."

A start was made at 4 A.M. on the 27th in a thirty-mile wind accompanied
by low drift. The surface was smooth but grew unexpectedly soft at
intervals, while the ascent soon began to tell on us. Though the work
was laborious, notwithstanding some aid from the sail, the bright
sunlight kept up our spirits, and, whenever a halt was called for a few
minutes' spell, the conversation invariably turned upon the subject of
food and what we should do on arrival on board the 'Aurora'.

At noon the sledge-meter showed nine miles one thousand four hundred
yards, and we agreed to halt and pitch