r three hours we called unceasingly
but no answering sound came back. The dog had ceased to moan and lay
without a movement. A chill draught was blowing out of the abyss. We
felt that there was little hope.

Why had the first sledge escaped the crevasse? It seemed that I had
been fortunate, because my sledge had crossed diagonally, with a greater
chance of breaking the snow-lid. The sledges were within thirty pounds
of the same weight. The explanation appeared to be that Ninnis had
walked by the side of his sledge, whereas I had crossed it sitting on
the sledge. The whole weight of a man's body bearing on his foot is a
formidable load and no doubt was sufficient to smash the arch of the
roof.

By means of a fishing line we ascertained that it was one hundred and
fifty feet sheer to the ledge on which the remains were seen; on either
side the crevasse descended into blackness. It seemed so very far down
there and the dogs looked so small that we got out the field glasses,
but could make out nothing more by their aid.

All our available rope was tied together but the total length was
insufficient to reach the ledge and any idea of going below to
investigate and to secure some of the food had to be abandoned.

Stunned by the unexpectedness of it all and having exhausted the few
appliances we carried for such a contingency, we felt helpless. In such
moments action is the only tolerable thing, and if there had been any
expedient however hazardous which might have been tried, we should have
taken all and more than the risk. Stricken dumb with the pity of it and
heavy at heart, we turned our minds mechanically to what lay nearest at
hand.

There were rations on the other sledge, and we found that there was a
bare one and a half weeks' food for ourselves and nothing at all for the
dogs. Part of the provisions consisted of raisins and almonds which had
been taken as extras or "perks," as they were usually called.

Among other losses there were both spade and ice-axe, but fortunately a
spare tent-cover was saved. Mertz's burberry trousers had gone down
with the sledge and the best substitute he could get was a pair of thick
Jaeger woollen under-trousers from the spare clothing we possessed.

Later in the afternoon Mertz and I went ahead to a higher point in order
to obtain a better view of our surroundings. At a point two thousand
four hundred feet above sea-level and three hundred and fifteen and
three-quarter miles east