Page:Scott's Last Expedition, Volume 2.djvu/509

The dogs' weights here having been much reduced, they were able to relieve the mules to a large extent. The routine of the march was now changed: from one to two hours after the mules had started, the dogs followed them. The change in the dogs and in their rate of progress was now wonderful: when they had something to follow, and especially when the mules came into view, they proceeded during the whole of the day at a full gallop.

Abdullah, Hooper's mule, had constituted himself leader throughout, and continued so until his return from the Barrier towards the end of November. This was a difficult feat, as the first mule has always the added hardship of having to break the track.

The surface was extremely good, hard, and almost marbled, and the sledges followed the animals easily.

Each night, on camping, a wall was built for the mules, consisting of large slabs of hard snow dug in the Barrier; they were a considerable amount of trouble, but afforded shelter to the beasts from the wind and drift. The mules had so eaten their covers that it required much ingenuity to make these useful for protecting the beasts.

The day's rest had done everyone good, and on a glorious day we proceeded and soon finished the twelve miles for the day.

On the night of the 6th and 7th we started at 10.30, and, on a slightly worse surface, did seven miles up to lunch. All along this way we had been building cairns of snow at intervals of from two to four miles apart. The day, which was cloudy, cleared towards morning, and was much colder. During this time we were marching