Page:Scott's Last Expedition, Volume 2.djvu/177

Siren Bay the same night. On our way back we sounded the ice several times, finding thin ice until we reached the tide crack at the mouth of the bay.

October 9 and 10.—We went north along the coast on ski, collecting and examining the face of the glacier, but we found no place where it was possible to climb up. The snow along the coast was very soft and deep, making progress difficult even on ski. We saw a good number of snow and Antarctic petrels circling about the cliffs as if they nested here.

October 11.—The temperature when we turned out was −22·8° F.

Our only chance of doing anything now was to try and get up on one of the glaciers, and although we had seen no accessible place on our outward march, we decided to follow round each bay and examine the coast closely. To-day we returned to Birthday Point.

October 12.—A fine morning; I got a round of angles while Priestley went round the bay on ski. We saw a seal near the camp which had just given birth.

Our noses are frostbitten and sunburnt and are a curious sight. They have swollen very much; Abbott's is the worst, being one great blister. I had an attack of snow blindness in the afternoon.

October 13.—Temperature −1° F., weather thick, with snow. We pulled out after breakfast and made for Sphinx Rock, where we camped at 1.30, just in time, as it came on to blow hard, with heavy drift. We saw several seals up along the side crack.

October 14.—Weather-bound all day in the tent,