orth
while spending some time in boiling the dogs' meat thoroughly. Thus a
tasty soup was prepared as well as a supply of edible meat in which the
muscular tissue and the gristle were reduced to the consistency of a
jelly. The paws took longest of all to cook, but, treated to lengthy
stewing, they became quite digestible.

On December 24 we were up at 8 A.M. just as the sun commenced to gleam
through clouds. The light was rather bad, and snow fell as the track
zigzagged about among many crevasses; but suddenly the sun broke forth.
The sledge was crossing a surface of deep snow which soon became so
sticky that the load would scarcely move. At last a halt was made after
four miles, and we waited for the evening, when the surface was expected
to harden.

A small prion visited us but went off in a moment. It is very remarkable
how far some Antarctic sea-birds may wander inland, apparently at such
a great distance from anything which should interest them. We were then
more than one hundred miles south of the open sea. As the bird flew
away, we watched it until it disappeared in the north, wishing that we
too had wings to cross the interminable plateau ahead.

Lying in the sleeping-bag that day I dreamt that I visited a
confectioner's shop. All the wares that were displayed measured feet in
diameter. I purchased an enormous delicacy just as one would buy a bun
under ordinary stances. I remember paying the money over the counter,
but something happened before I received what I had chosen. When I
realized the omission I was out in the street, and, being greatly
disappointed, went back to the shop, but found the door shut and "early
closing" written on it.

Though a good daily average had been maintained on the march whenever
conditions were at all favourable, the continuance of bad weather
and the undoubtedly weaker state in which we found ourselves made it
imperative to dispense with all but the barest necessities. Thus
the theodolite was the only instrument retained, and the camera,
photographic films (exposed and unexposed), hypsometer, thermometers,
rifle, ammunition and other sundries were all thrown away. The frame
of the tent was made lighter by constructing two poles, each four
feet high, from the telescopic theodolite legs, the heavier pieces of
sledge-runner being discarded.

We were up at 11 P.M. on December 24, but so much time was absorbed in
making a dog-stew for Christmas that it was not till 2.80 A.M. that