214 SCOTT'S LAST. EXPEDITION [APRIL 
we reached some old sea ice which had probably been there for 
two years or more. We then proceeded over a very good sur- 
face through a cold day, towards the pinnacled ice and com- 
pleted 13 miles for that day. The minimum for the night was 
— 43°. We did not sleep very well and started breakfast at 7 A.M. 
in the dark. The temperature for the whole day was about 
minus 40°. We made good progress over this same old sea 
ice and luckily we were able to skirt the edge of the pinnacled ice. 
We camped finally about four miles from the Eskers on the west- 
ern shore, four miles of new sea ice intervening between us and 
them. On this night there were five penguins on the old sea ice 
by our camp. This was disturbing, as it meant the near presence 
_of open water. The minimum for the night was minus 45°. 
When the morning broke, we saw that a blizzard was impending 
and we knew it was a matter of speed if we were to cross the 
new sea ice in safety. Luckily the wind favoured us. We set 
sail and practically ran with the sledge for two miles before it. 
The wind then falling light our progress became very slow over 
a bad surface. To add to our anxiety we could see several Em- 
peror penguins making towards the old sea ice and.big leads 
opening and frost smoke rising from the breaking up of the 
new sea ice. Eventually we reached the Eskers in safety. We 
proceeded over a very bad surface from Butter Point for four 
miles and then, a strong blizzard setting in, we had to camp. 
This blizzard proved far from being a friend. With it the tem- 
perature rose to zero, and our clothing and our bags, which were 
already full of ice, became saturated, making us in a very un- 
comfortable state. 
On the 20th in the morning, after 3 miles, we reached the 
depot on the northern end of Butter Point. This depot had been 
left there earlier in the season by the ship. We camped and had 
some tea. Having struck camp, while we were harnessing up 
Williamson exclaimed, ‘ Lord, look at that!’ ‘The sea ice at the 
foot of the Point was gradually breaking up and sailing out to 
sea. This meant that it was impossible for a party to travel 
up the coast to the relief of Campbell, and we necessarily had 
to turn back from this point. It also meant that it was impos- 
sible for Campbell and his party to make their way down the 
coast and that in all probability he and his party would have to 
winter at Evans Coves. The question of their travelling on such 
