and started back at a gallop for Aladdin's Cave with
two empty sledges, Mertz careering ahead on skis over the sastrugi
field.

Shortly afterwards two black specks were seen away in the north; a
glance with the binoculars leaving no doubt as to the identity of the
parties. We returned to the loads, and, having picked them up, made a
course to the east to intercept the other men.

It was a happy camp that evening!with the three tents pitched together,
while we compared our experiences of the previous six days and made
plans for the outward journey.

Our sledge-meter had already suffered through bumping over rough ice and
sastrugi, and an exchange was made with the stronger one on Stillwell's
sledge. A quantity of food was also taken over from him and the loads
were finally adjusted.

The details and weights of the equipment on the three sledges belonging
to my party are sufficiently interesting to be set out at length below.
Most of the items were included in the impedimenta of all our parties,
but slight variations were necessary to meet particular stances or to
satisfy the whim of an individual.

TOTAL LOAD

The Principal Sledge, 11ft. long, 45 lb.

Fittings for Same: Instrument-box 7 lb. 5 oz.; cooker-box, 7 lb.
6 oz.; kerosene-tray, 3 lb.; mast-attachment, 2 lb. 8 oz.; mast, 1 lb.
16 oz.; spar, 1 lb. 8 oz.; decking (canvas and bamboo), 3 lb. 5 oz.;
rigging, 7.5 oz.; 5 leather straps, 5 lb..... 77 lb. 6.5 oz.

Drill Tent, strengthened and attached to poles, also floor-cloth,
33 lb. Spare drill cover, 11 lb. 8 oz........ 44 lb. 8 oz.

Sleeping-bags, 3 one-man bags............ 30 lb. 0 oz.

Cooking gear: Nansen cooker, 11 lb. 3 oz.; 3 mugs, 1 lb. 8 oz., 2 tins,
10 oz.; scales, 0.5 oz.; 3 spoons, 1.5 oz.; matches, 13.5 oz., and
damp-proof tin to hold same, 3.7 oz.; "Primus" heater, full, 3 lb.
10 oz.; "Primus" prickers, 2.5 oz.; "Primus" repair outfit, 2 oz.;
kerosene tin openers and pourers, 4.5 oz.; spirit for "Primus" in
tin, 5 lb. 14 oz., also a ready bottle, full, 1 lb. 5 oz.
........................... 25 lb. 14.2 oz.

Repair Outfit: Spare copper wire, rivets, needles, thread, etc.,
1 lb. 14.5 oz.; set of 12 tools, 15.5 oz.; requirements for repairing
dog-harness and medically treating the dogs, 3 lb. 8 oz
........................ 6 lb. 6 oz.

Medical Outfit: 6 "Burroughs & Wellcome" first field dressings;
absorbent cotton wool; boric wool; pleated lint; pleated bandages,