Page:Scott's Last Expedition, Volume 2.djvu/463

over a very good surface through a cold day towards the pinnacled ice, and completed 13 miles for that day. The minimum for the night was minus 43°. We did not sleep very well and started breakfast at 7 a.m. in the dark. The temperature for the whole day was about minus 40°. We made good progress over this same old sea ice and luckily we were able to skirt the edge of the pinnacled ice. We camped finally about four miles from the Eskers on the western shore, four miles of new sea ice intervening between us and them. On this night there were five penguins on the old sea ice by our camp. This was disturbing, as it meant the near presence of open water. The minimum for the night was minus 45°. When the morning broke, we saw that a blizzard was impending and we knew it was a matter of speed if we were to cross the new sea ice in safety. Luckily the wind favoured us. We set sail and practically ran with the sledge for two miles before it. The wind then falling light our progress became very slow over a bad surface. To add to our anxiety we could see several Emperor penguins making towards the old sea ice and big leads opening and frost smoke rising from the breaking up of the new sea ice. Eventually we reached the Eskers in safety. We proceeded over a very bad surface from Butter Point for four miles and then, a strong blizzard setting in, we had to camp. This blizzard proved far from being a friend. With it the temperature rose to zero, and our clothing and our bags, which were already full of ice, became saturated, making us in a very uncomfortable state.