Then if provisions permitted he would push south as far as lat.83ｰ.Mackintosh himself was reinforcing the depot at lat.

80ｰ S.and would then carry on southward.

Apparently his instructions to Joyce were intended to guard against the contingency of the parties failing to meet.

The dogs were hauling well, and though their number was small they were of very great assistance.

The parties were now ninety days out from Cape Evans, and "all hands were feeling fit." The next incident of importance was the appearance of a defect in one of the two Primus lamps used by Joyce's party.