Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-26

to see II it will not then need but little
cooking after we are on our way.
March Seventeenth.
st. Patrick's day-and the first good
day since we arrived. 1t is the first
Gay we could safely attempt to fly out.
Now we have no plane.
Fortunately, Harold can listen in
on radio messages from camp. They
are becoming alarmed at our long con-
| tinued silence. but apparently do not
yet really suspect our tragic loss Of the
ship.
Just now comes a message that the
weather is O. K. there and that We
shall return. Would that we could.
At the $50 radio schedule this
morning the commander sent word that
dog teams would start for us soon and
that, weather permitting, the plane
would fly over to US.
Hope Weather Will Last.
It is clouding over a bit just now,
but I think Il is only temporary. OF
course, they will wait a reasonable
length of good weather there to see
if we do not return, and they will fly.
We can but sit tight and hope the
good weather lasts. The barometer Is
still rising, SO there is good reason for
us to hope for rescue today.
$50 Our good day couldn't last
long. Now the sky is completely over
cast and q bit of snow Is falling. Wis.,
Utility is poor. There Is little chance or
hope that the plane can come to our
rescue today.
But the dog teams are starting.
Barring accidents, such as falling into
crevasses and the like, they might be
here within week. That is more
sure prospect and hope than is that of
walking home.
Prospects Are Brighter.
II there were only some way to tell
the commander that we are unframed.
Knowing him, I know this is his first,
last and constant thought. For his
sake and for those way back behind in
the States we hope the plane can come
reasonably soon.
Harold and Bernt are across the ice
at the plane. sit here impatiently
awaiting their return and preparing to
regale them with stew OF pemmican
and pea meal and some bacon fat for
additional seasoning. With hard bread
it is a good dish.
And then there will be a cup or two
the prospects of us being obliged to
walk home seem less just now.
MARCH EIGHTEENTH.
A bright, sunny morning and an
almost cloudless sky. Surely the plane
would fly to us this morning, but at the
T:30 radio schedule word came from
camp that the weather was bad there
and that they couldn't fly until 1t had
! improved.
Meanwhile we three took a walk
toward the hills. All around us the
horizon was clear, few thin cirrus
and cirrus-stratus clouds, good visibil-
| ity and beautiful flying weather.
Hard to Sit and Wait.
Harold listened to the 1890 radio
schedule. 1t is so hard to sit and wait
with nothing to do. We should be hap
| pier pulling on our hand sled home
| ward bound, yet we all realize that
much the safest and sanest plan is to
! wait here, whether relief comes by
plane or dog team, for they know
! about our present position and our re-
! lation to the mountains.
| If we start back on foot We might
| pass within few miles OF the dog
teams and never see them and. fur
| lneIHlOIe, So Tiny tIlLllB dS VIC tilltt
in this limitlesS desert OF white would
not be easy to see from the air.
| And SO We shall sit tight. But the
weather is so hopeful-looking now.
| The barometer is falling and the cloud
mess has increased but as yet no wind
Thanks God" as Bernt would say.
MARCH NINETEENTH.
Well, 1t did happen. Yesterday abou
pm. June turned in and shouted t
us that the plane was in the air. Wha
excitement! How eagerly we looked to
ward the western sky!
OF course, We could hear the PLAN
before we could see it and when 1t ap
peared they didn't see us. How We dix
hurry to touch off the smoke bombs.
Comdr. Byrd was in the plane him
self and Hanson was along with tn
radio. Dean Smith was plotting and h
did splendid job.
Nothing Said About Loss.
It was good to see the commando
again. I knew he would come whel
) 1t was possible. He did not say wor'
about the loss of the plane.
No one who has not experienced !
. can appreciate his sense Of tairnes