Page:Scott's Last Expedition, Volume 2.djvu/239

August 15.—Being a fine morning we decided to bring the iron runner sledge over from Arrival Bay. Of course as soon as we started the wind came down on us again, but the drift was not so thick as before. I foolishly did not put on a helmet, and my cheeks, nose, and chin 'went' rather badly, taking a long time to come round, though Priestley and Abbott helped to thaw it out for me. This evening our other sledge is completely buried.

August 20.—My birthday, and as it was my day on as cook, the others relieved me and I spent a lazy day.

It has been blowing for the last two days, with open water, but last night the wind eased for a few hours, and immediately ice formed all over the bay.

Our birthday ration to-night consists of two biscuits, twenty raisins, six lumps of sugar each, strong tea, and liver hoosh, As usual we finished up with a sing-song.

August 28.—The wind dropped last night after blowing hard since the 20th, and we put in a good day carrying blubber and meat up from the ice foot. There was a cold breeze and I got my nose and feet frozen. We are all suffering much from frostbitten feet, as our ski boots are pretty well worn out and their soles are full of holes.

In the evening Abbott came running in for my glasses as he saw something that looked like a sledge party on the piedmont, but as usual this proved a false alarm.

August 31.—Calm and very cold since the 28th. We had our last stick of chocolate till we start sledging, but to-morrow we start one biscuit a day each. We have been all this month without biscuit and have felt none the