122 SCOPT’S ‘LAST EXPEDITION [NovEMBER 
clothes, and food, so as to travel light to Cape Evans. I was 
very anxious to get there as soon as possible, as I thought there 
was a chance that there might be one or two mules or enough 
dogs to enable me to follow the search party. It had been a 
great disappointment for us to have missed them by a week, as 
we were all anxious to join in the search. 
November 7.—4 A.M. A lovely morning. After a hasty 
breakfast we were off, arriving at Cape Evans at 5 p.m. We 
found no one at home, but a letter on the door of the hut gave 
us all the news and the names of the lost party. Very soon 
Debenham and Archer returned, giving us a most hearty wel- 
come, and no one can realise what it meant to us to see new 
faces and to be home after our long winter. Our clothes, let- 
ters, etc., had been landed from the ship, and we were able to 
read our home letters, which we had only time to glance at in 
the ship in February. Archer provided a sumptuous dinner that 
night, and we sailed into it in a way that made Debenham hold 
his breath. A bath and change of clothes completed the 
transformation. 
November 8.—Weather overcast, with a cold south-easterly 
wind of medium force. I went round with Debenham and was 
much surprised at the amount of stores. If we were down for 
another winter there should be no lack. Our clothes had been 
landed by the ship. There was nothing we wanted except boots, 
of which I served out one pair to each. 
It was hopeless to think of following the search party, the 
only transport being a few dogs that had been left behind, as they 
were slow or weak. Atkinson’s plans were to push on and search 
to the top of the Beardmore Glacier unless he found traces of 
the party before, so there was no hope of catching him. I find our 
party are not so fit as I thought. Most of us have developed 
swollen ankles and legs (cedema), and when the flesh is pressed 
in the holes remain there. 
From November 8 till the return of the sledge party we were © 
all very busy transcribing our last winter’s diaries, developing 
photographs, and renewing what of our outfit we were unable 
to replace. 
On the r1th Levick, Abbott and Dickason left for Hut Point, 
and the next day but one they returned, bringing with them our 
