t of the kit-bags was scrupulously cut down.
By the time we crawled into sleeping-bags, everything dispensable was
piled alongside the depot-flag.

We slept the sleep of the weary and did not hear the flapping tent nor
the hissing drift. At 6 A.M. the wind was doing forty miles per hour and
the air was filled with snow. It must have been a new climate, for by
noon the sun had unexpectedly broken through, the wind was becoming
gusty and the drift trailed like scud over the surface.

With six weeks' food we set off on a new trail after lunch. The way
to the eastern glacier--Mertz Glacier--issued through the mouth of the
gully, which ran in an easterly direction between Aurora Peak and Mount
Murchison. On Mount Murchison ice-falls and crevasses began a short
distance east of our first line of descent, but yet I thought a slight
deviation to the east of south would bring us safely into the valley,
and, at the same time, cut off a mile. Alas! it proved to be one of
those "best-laid schemes."

The load commenced to glide so quickly as we were leaving the crest of
the mountain that Correll and McLean unhitched from the hauling line
and attached themselves by the alpine rope to the rear of the sledge,
braking its progress. I remained harnessed in front keeping the
direction. For two miles we were going downhill at a running pace and
then the slope became suddenly steeper and the sledge overtook me. I had
expected crevasses, in view of which I did not like all the loose rope
behind me. Looking round, I shouted to the others to hold back the
sledge, proceeding a few steps while doing so. The bow of the sledge was
almost at my feet, when--whizz! I was dropping down through space. The
length of the hauling rope was twenty-four feet, and I was at the end of
it. I cannot say that "my past life flashed before me." I just had time
to think "Now for the jerk--will my harness hold?" when there was a
wrench, and I was hanging breathless over the blue depth. Then the most
anxious moment came--I continued to descend. A glance showed me that the
crevasse was only four feet wide, so the sledge could not follow me, and
I knew with a thankful heart that I was safe. I only descended about
two feet more, and then stopped. I knew my companions had pulled up the
sledge and would be anchoring it with the ice-axe.

I had a few moments in which to take in my surroundings. Opposite to
me was a vertical wall of ice, and below a beautiful blue, darken