last midnight march, exulting in the knowledge of ten days'
provisions at hand and fifty-three miles to go to reach the Hut.

In the manner of the climate, a few wisps of misty rack came sailing
from the south-east, the wind rose, snow commenced to fall and a
blizzard held sway for almost three days. It was just as well that we
had found that depot when we did.

The fifty-three miles to the Hut melted away in the pleasures of
anticipation. The first two miles, on the morning of January 14, gave us
some strenuous work, but they were luxurious in comparison with what we
expected; soon, however, the surface rapidly and permanently improved. A
forty-mile wind from the south-east was a distinct help, and by the end
of the day we had come in sight of the nunatak first seen after leaving
the Hut (Madigan Nunatak).

In two days forty miles lay behind. Down the blue ice-slopes in slippery
finnesko, and Aladdin's Cave hove in sight. We tumbled in, to be
assailed by a wonderful odour which brought back orchards, shops,
people--a breath of civilization. In the centre of the floor was a pile
of oranges surmounted by two luscious pineapples. The Ship was in! There
was a bundle of letters--Bage was back from the south--Wild had been
landed one thousand five hundred miles to the west--Amundsen had reached
the Pole! Scott was remaining in the Antarctic for another year. How we
shouted and read all together!

CHAPTER XVII WITH STILLWELL'S AND BICKERTON'S PARTIES

Leaving Madigan's party on November 19, when forty-six miles from the
Hut, Stillwell, Hodgeman and Close of the Near-Eastern Party diverged
towards a dome-shaped mountain--Mount Hunt. A broad valley lay
between their position on the falling plateau and this eminence to the
north-east. Looking across, one would think that the depression was
slight, but the party found by aneroid that their descent was one
thousand five hundred feet into a gully filled with soft, deep snow.
After skimming the polished sastrugi of the uplands, the sledge ran
heavily in the yielding drifts. Then a gale of wind rose behind them
just as the ascent on the other side commenced, and was a valuable aid
in the pull to the summit.

From the highest point or cap of what proved to be a promontory, a wide
seascape dotted with bergs was unfolded to the north. To the west the
eastern cape of Commonwealth Bay was visible, and sweeping away to
the north-east was the Mertz Glacier with sheer, jutting he