Page:Scott's Last Expedition, Volume 2.djvu/210

walk of a mile or two tired us far more than a hard day's sledging had done a month before.

Perhaps the worst feature in our present position, however, is the absence of any news from our comrades, and the fear which is naturally growing within us lest the ship should have got into some trouble during this heavy weather.

February 29.—The wind dropped in the morning, and we had our first fine day since the 15th. In the afternoon we pulled over and camped on the island south of the moraine, which we have named Inexpressible Island. In the evening after hoosh we climbed 'Look-out' Hill, and saw what we thought was smoke on the horizon, and under it a small black speck. Unfortunately, it turned out to be only an iceberg with a cloud behind it, showing dark under a snow-squall.

Soon after the wind and snow recommenced.

March 1.—The weather cleared at 10 a.m. I had decided to start killing seals for the winter to-day if there was no sign of the ship, so after seeing no sign of anything from Look-out Hill, we killed and cut up two seals and eighteen penguins.

There are very few of the former up, and seals hate wind, so we must pray for fine weather to stock our larder, as the animals seldom leave the water in the winter.

March 2 to 4.—It came on to blow hard in the night of the 1st, and continued blowing steadily for the next three days.

The gale reached its height on the 3rd, when the tent split and we had to shift camp on to a snowdrift, where we