on us.

Ninnis and Mertz came into our tent for a short talk before turning in.
Mertz sang the old German student song:

Studio auf einer Reis'
Immer sich zu helfen weis
Immer fort durch's Dick und Dunn
Schlendert es durch's Leben hin.

We were nearly all University graduates. We knew that this would be our
last evening together till all were safely back at the Hut. No thought
was farther from our minds than that it was the last evening we would
ever spend with two companions, who had been our dear comrades for just
a year.

Before turning into sleeping-bags, a messenger brought me dispatches
from the general's tent--a letter on the plateau. This proved to be the
instructions to the Eastern Coastal Party. Arriving back at the Hut by
January 15, we were to ascertain as much as possible of the coast lying
east of the Mertz Glacier, investigating its broad features and carrying
out the following scientific work: magnetic, biological and geological
observations, the character, especially the nature and size of the
grains of ice or snow surfaces, details of sastrugi, topographical
features, heights and distances, and meteorology.

On Sunday, November 17, we moved on together to the east with the wind
at fifteen miles an hour, the temperature being 9 degrees F. The sun
shone strongly soon after the start, and with four miles to our credit
a tent was run up at 1 P.M., and all lunched together on tea, biscuit,
butter and chocolate. Up to this time we had had only three al fresco
lunches, but, as the weather seemed to be much milder and the benefit of
tea and a rest by the way were so great, we decided to use the tent in
future, and did so throughout the journey.

In the afternoon, Dr. Mawson's party forged ahead, the dogs romping
along on a downhill grade. We took the bit in our teeth as we saw them
sitting on their sledges, growing smaller and smaller in front of us. We
came up with them again as they had waited to exchange a few more words
at a point on the track where a long extent of coast to the east came
into view.

Here we bade a final adieu to Dr. Mawson, Mertz and Ninnis. The surface
was on the down grade towards the east, and with a cheer and farewell
wave they started off, Mertz walking rapidly ahead, followed by Ninnis
and Dr. Mawson with their sledges and teams. They were soon lost to view
behind the rolling undulations.

A mile farther on we pitched camp at 8 P.M. in a slight depression