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relieve Campbell and his party. Owing to her small coal supply, she could not stay in the Sound later than March 8, and thus she was unable to notify us at the base of her success or failure in this undertaking.

On March 16, Cherry-Garrard and Demetri came in and reported that they had seen no sign of the Polar Party; they also reported the early break of the season, exceedingly low temperatures and the bad weather on the Barrier. The condition of both men was such that it was impossible for them to do any further sledging that season. I told Cherry-Garrard that we should have to make another journey to try and get to the Polar Party; he readily agreed and said that he would be quite ready himself after a few days' rest. The taking of Demetri, owing to his health was out of the question. On the third day after his return Cherry-Garrard collapsed in the morning, suffering from an over-strained heart; it was a very sad blow to him to realise that he was unable to help during this anxious time, and it was a hard measure to have to tell him that further sledging that year was impossible for him.

Realising that something had to be done, I proposed to Keohane that he should come out alone with me. He was cheerful and willing and proved of the very greatest service during a very trying time.

We discussed fully the probable dates of the return of the party to certain points and the possibility of two men being able to render them material assistance. Owing to the bad light and the time of the year, the probabilities were that they could only be met at depôts.