68 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [January 



hut, all the petrol, paraffin and oil of all descriptions, and a 

 quantity of oats for the ponies besides odds and ends. The 

 ponies are to begin work to-morrow; they did nothing to-day, 

 but the motor sledges did well — they are steadying down to their 

 work and made nothing but non-stop runs to-day. One begins 

 to believe they will be reliable, but I am still fearing that they 

 will not take such heavy loads as we hoped. 



Day is very pleased and thinks he's going to do wonders, 

 and Nelson shares his optimism. The dogs find the day work 

 terribly heavy and Meares is going to put them on to night work. 



The framework of the hut is nearly up; the hands worked 

 till I A.M. this morning and were at it again at 7 A.M. — an in- 

 stance of the spirit which actuates everyone. The men teams 

 formed of the after-guard brought in good loads, but they are 

 not yet in condition. The hut is about 11 or 12 feet above the 

 water as far as I can judge. I don't think spray can get so high 

 in such a sheltered spot even if we get a northerly gale when the 

 sea is open. 



In all other respects the situation is admirable. This work 

 makes one very tired for Diary-writing. 



Friday, January 6. — We got to work at 6 again this morn- 

 ing. Wilson, Atkinson, Cherry-Garrard, and I took each a pony, 

 returned to the ship, and brought a load ashore; we then 

 changed ponies and repeated the process. We each took three 

 ponies in the morning, and I took one in the afternoon. 



Bruce, after relief by Rennick, took one in the morning and 

 one in the afternoon — of the remaining five Oates deemed two 

 unfit for work and three requiring some breaking in before get- 

 ting to serious business. 



I was astonished at the strength of the beasts I handled; 

 three out of the four pulled hard the whole time and gave me 

 much exercise. I brought back loads of 700 lbs. and on one 

 occasion over 1000 lbs. 



With ponies, motor sledges, dogs, and men parties we have 

 done an excellent day of transporting — another such day should 

 practically finish all the stores and leave only fuel and fodder 

 (60 tons) to complete our landing. So far it has been remark- 

 ably expeditious. 



The motor sledges are working well, but not very well; the 

 small difficulties will be got over, but I rather fear they will 



