44 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [December 



A FRESH MS. BOOK. 1910-11. 



[On the Flyleaf] 



* And in regions far 

 Such heroes bring ye forth 



As those from whom we came 

 And plant our name 

 Under that star 

 Not known unto our North.' 



' To the Virginian Voyage.' 

 Drayton. 



* But be the workemen what they may be, let us speake of the worke ; 

 that is, the true greatnesse of Kingdom and estates; and the meanes 

 thereof.' Bacon. 



Still in the Ice 



Wednesday, December 28, 19 10. — Obs. Noon, 69° 17' S., 

 179° 42' W. Made good since 26th S. 74 W. 31'; C. Crozier 

 S. 22 W. 530'. The gale has abated. The sky began to clear 

 in the middle watch; now we have bright, cheerful, warm sun- 

 shine (temp. 28°). The wind lulled in the middle watch and 

 has fallen to force 2 to 3. We made 1J/2 miles in the middle 

 and have added nearly a mile since. This movement has brought 

 us amongst floes of decidedly smaller area and the pack has 

 loosened considerably. A visit to the crow's nest shows great 

 improvement in the conditions. There is ice on all sides, but 

 a large percentage of the floes is quite thin and even the heavier 

 ice appears breakable. It is only possible to be certain of condi- 

 tions for three miles or so — the limit of observation from the 

 crow's nest; but as far as this limit there is no doubt the ship 

 could work through with ease. Beyond there are vague signs of 

 open water in the southern sky. We have pushed and drifted 

 south and west during the gale and are now near the i8oth 

 meridian again. It seems impossible that we can be far from the 

 southern limit of the pack. 



On strength of these observations we have decided to raise 

 steam. I trust this effort will carry us through. 



The pony which fell last night has now been brought out 

 into the open. The poor beast is in a miserable condition, very 

 thin, very weak on the hind legs, and suffering from a most 



