Page:Scott's Last Expedition, Volume 2.djvu/453

weather clearing slightly, they saw White Island and headed back toward this. The temperature now remained below minus 30 for the whole of the day and the dogs and men began to feel the effects of the low temperature and high winds.

On March 13 they got a point of land to steer upon, realising that they were well to the east of what their position ought to have been. They did 18 miles for the day and camped in a fog. The year was closing in and the time of the travelling day was much decreased. Demetri thought that he saw the flag of Corner Camp to the west and steered for it. Luckily the foot hills cleared and they were able to avoid the ice pressure and crevasses of White Island, for which they had been steering. The total run for the day was about 11 miles.

On March 14 they had a clear day and realised that they were a good deal out of their reckoning. Getting under way they thought they saw what was a cairn; making for it, they found it was a great open crevasse or chasm with pressure on the farther side miraged. They then made out south-east and crossed several big crevasses. Soon after this they saw the motor one mile to the east, and Corner Camp 2 miles beyond that. They ran on past Corner Camp and eventually reached the Biscuit Depôt 15 miles from Hut Point. On this day Demetri nearly fainted and declared that he was completely done. Their main anxiety now was whether the sea ice between the edge of the Barrier and Hut Point still remained in.

On March 15 they were held up all day at the Biscuit