a hole bushed for the reception of the drill. Two sets of
these were got ready; one for each runner.

The standards were made from spare caps belonging to the wireless masts.
The timely fracture of one of the vices supplied me with sufficient
ready-cut thread of the required pitch for one brake. Cranked handles
were fitted, and the points, which came in contact with the ice, were
hardened and tempered. When protruded to their fullest extent, the
spikes extended four inches below the runners.

The whole contrivance was not very elegant, but impressed one with its
strength and reliability. To work the handles, two men had to sit one on
each runner. As the latter were narrow and the available framework,
by which to hold on and steady oneself, rather limited, the office of
brakesman promised to be one with acrobatic possibilities.

To start the engine it was necessary to have a calm and, preferably,
sunny day; the engine and oil-tank had been painted black to absorb the
sun's heat. On a windy day with sun and an air temperature of 30 degrees
F., it was only with considerable difficulty that the engine could be
turned--chiefly owing to the thickness of the lubricating oil. But on
a calm day with the temperature lower -20 degrees F. for example--the
engine would swing well enough to permit starting, after an hour or
two of steady sun. If there were no sun even in the absence of
wind, starting would be out of the question, unless the atmospheric
temperature were high or the engine were warmed with a blow-lamp.

It was not till November 15 that the right combination of conditions
came. That day was calm and sunny, and the engine needed no more
stimulus than it would have received in a "decent" climate.

Hannam, Whetter and I were the only inhabitants of the Hut at the
time. Having ascertained that the oil and air pumps were working
satisfactorily, we fitted the wheels and air-rudder, and made a number
of satisfactory trials in the vicinity of the Hut.

The wheels were soon discarded as useless; reliance being placed on the
long runners. Then the brakes were tested for the first time by driving
for a short distance uphill to the south and glissading down the slope
back to the Hut. With a man in charge of each brake, the machine, when
in full career down the slope, was soon brought to a standstill. The
experiment was repeated from a higher position on the slope, with the
same result. The machine was then taken above the s