as getting into my head, and giving me that draught in the
brain which only travellers in frozen regions know, or the Power higher
than Nature which speaks to a man in great solitudes when life is low, I
cannot say, but as God is my witness, I was hearing again the voices of
my dear ones so far away.

Sometimes they were the voices of my old people in Ellan, but more
frequently, and most importunately, it was Mary's voice, calling me by
my name, and crying to me for help as if she were in the shadow of some
threatening danger.

"Martin! Martin! Martin!"

When this idea took clear possession of me--it was about three a.m. and
the hurricane was yowling like a wounded dog--the answering thought came
quick. I must go back. No matter at what cost or sacrifice--I must go
back.

It was in vain I reflected that the trouble which threatened my darling
(whatever it was, and I thought I knew) might be all over before I
reached her side--I must go back.

And even when I reminded myself that I was within twenty days' march of
that last point of my journey which was to be the crown and completion
of it all, I also remembered that my dear one was calling me, and I had
no choice but to obey.

Next morning, in the first light of the dim Antarctic glow, I crept out
of my snow hut to look south with powerful glasses in order to make sure
that there was no reason why I should change my mind.

There was none. Although the snow had ceased the blizzard was blowing a
hundred miles an hour in cutting gusts, so with a bleeding heart (and
yet a hot one) I told Treacle to call rip our company, and when they
stood round me in the shelter of my hut I said:

"Shipmates, I have been thinking things over during the night, and I see
them differently now. Nature is stronger than man, and the nature that
is inside of us sometimes hits us harder than that which is without. I
think it is that way with us here, and I believe there isn't a man of
you who wouldn't go forward with me if he had nobody to think of except
himself. . . . Well, perhaps _I_ have somebody to think of, too, so
we'll stick together, shipmates, and whatever regrets there may be, or
disappointments, or heart-breakings, we'll . . . we'll go back home."

I think it says something for the mettle my men were made of that there
was never a cheer after I said that, for they could see what it cost me
to say it. But by God, there was a shout when I added:

"We've drawn a blank this ti