264 SCOTT’S LAST EXPEDITION [Marcx 
an impenetrable barrier; in places this year’s pancake, consoli- 
dated and up to one foot thick, in thick slush, forms equally im- 
penetrable barrier owing to its viscous nature.’ 
In the forenoon of the 3rd the ship was again headed for 
Cape Evans. From several miles north of Beaufort Island to 
‘Morn. nearly Cape Royds the ship was passing through pan- 
1912, 76° 2’ cake ice, refrozen into large solid sheets of very vary- 
S., 167° 26" ing heaviness but often sufficient to reduce her speed 
i fifty per cent. The wait at Cape Evans was very 
short; she was only delayed an hour embarking those members 
going home who had not been able to get on board before, to- 
gether with Keohane, and then proceeded to Hut Point, where 
the ice had now broken away to within a quarter of a mile of the 
hut. 
Atkinson and Keohane were landed and a few stores taken 
to the hut. The ship then ran for the Glacier Tongue 
March 4, to complete with water, and shortly after 10 P.M. 
ated (the 4th) proceeded again for Terra Nova Bay. 
Although only twenty hours had elapsed between 
the time she passed Cape Royds, going south, and repassed it, 
going north, the ice had materially thickened, and between Cape 
Bird and Beaufort Island she forced through with considerable 
dificulty. The condition off Terra Nova Bay had, if anything, 
grown worse, and this time the ship was held up when 20 miles 
E.N.E. of the Barrier. 
Finally, on March 7, taking into consideration the nature and 
Mie extent of the pack and the time of the year, the con- 
arch 7, ° . 
1912, 75° 5’ clusion was reluctantly come to that the ship could 
S., 168° 43’ not reach Arrival Bay that season, and so she turned 
a north. 
The next day a sooty albatross was around the ship—a most 
welcome sight, proving the absence of pack to north 
March 8, 73° of her; and from now on large numbers of deep sea 
ae a ‘7# birds were always round the ship. 
On the 15th and 16th the Terra Nova passed up 
the north-east side of the Balleny Islands, closer than any other 
ship had been able to get, except Balleny himself; but either it 
was foggy or else it snowed so persistently, that noth- 
pines ing was seen of them except on the 16th, when the 
Ve S642 fog suddenly rolled away for two hours and, through 
45" E. a rift in the clouds, a glimpse of Buckle Island was 
