Friday, February 2.—­9340.  R. 16.  Temp.:  Lunch -19 deg., Supper -17 deg..  We started well on a strong southerly wind.  Soon got to a steep grade, when the sledge overran and upset us one after another.  We got off our ski, and pulling on foot reeled off 9 miles by lunch at 1.30.  Started in the afternoon on foot, going very strong.  We noticed a curious circumstance towards the end of the forenoon.  The tracks were drifted over, but the drifts formed a sort of causeway along which we pulled.  In the afternoon we soon came to a steep slope—­the same on which we exchanged sledges on December 28.  All went well till, in trying to keep the track at the same time as my feet, on a very slippery surface, I came an awful ‘purler’ on my shoulder.  It is horribly sore to-night and another sick person added to our tent—­three out of fine injured, and the most troublesome surfaces to come.  We shall be lucky if we get through without serious injury.  Wilson’s leg is better, but might easily get bad again, and Evans’ fingers.

At the bottom of the slope this afternoon we came on a confused sea of sastrugi.  We lost the track.  Later, on soft snow, we picked up E. Evans’ return track, which we are now following.  We have managed to get off 17 miles.  The extra food is certainly helping us, but we are getting pretty hungry.  The weather is already a trifle warmer and the altitude lower, and only 80 miles or so to Mount Darwin.  It is time we were off the summit—­Pray God another four days will see us pretty well clear of it.  Our bags are getting very wet and we ought to have more sleep.

Saturday, February 3.—­R. 17.  Temp.:  Lunch -20 deg.; Supper -20 deg..  Height 9040 feet.  Started pretty well on foot; came to steep slope with crevasses (few).  I went on ski to avoid another fall, and we took the slope gently with our sail, constantly losing the track, but picked up a much weathered cairn on our right.  Vexatious delays, searching for tracks, &c., reduced morning march to 8.1 miles.  Afternoon, came along a little better, but again lost tracks on hard slope.  To-night we are near camp of December 26, but cannot see cairn.  Have decided it is waste of time looking for tracks and cairn, and shall push on due north as fast as we can.

The surface is greatly changed since we passed outward, in most places polished smooth, but with heaps of new toothed sastrugi which are disagreeable obstacles.  Evans’ fingers are going on as well as can be expected, but it will be long before he will be able to help properly with the work.  Wilson’s leg much better, and my shoulder also, though it gives bad twinges.  The extra food is doing us all good, but we ought to have more sleep.  Very few more days on the plateau I hope.