They covered 16ｽ miles on the 28th, with Joyce absolutely blind and hanging to the harness for guidance, "but still pulling his whack." They reached Spencer-Smith's camp the next afternoon and found him in his sleeping-bag, quite unable to walk.

Joyce's diary of this date contains a rather gloomy reference to the outlook, since he guessed that Mackintosh also would be unable to make the homeward march.

"The dogs are still keeping fit," he added.

"If they will only last to 80ｰ S.we shall then have enough food to take them in, and then if the ship is in I guarantee they will live in comfort the remainder of their lives." No march could be made on the 30th, since a blizzard was raging.

The party made 8 miles on the 31st, with Spencer-Smith on one of the sledges in his sleeping-bag.