Many times in the past had I been glad to see the true eyes of Ross Marvin, but never more glad than this time.
The sledges which were now repaired were laden with the standard loads already described, and I found that I had just twelve.

This left some men and dogs over, so that it was not serious news when MacMillan called my attention to a frosted heel with which he had been worrying along for several days without saying anything to any one about it.

I saw at once that the only thing for him to do was to turn back.
It was a disappointment to me to lose MacMillan so early, as I had hoped that he would be able to go to a comparatively high latitude; but his disability did not affect the main proposition.

I had ample personnel, as well as provisions, sledges, and dogs; and the men, like the equipment, were interchangeable.
Here it may be well to note that, beyond my saying to Bartlett at Cape Columbia that I hoped conditions might be such as to give me the benefit of his energy and sturdy shoulders to some point beyond Abruzzi's farthest, no member of the party knew how far he was to go, or when he was to turn back.

Yet this made no difference in the eagerness of their work.