lOO SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [January 



breeching in the 30 ft. lead and promptly made for it ! It was 

 all we could do to stop them before we reached the water. 



Spent the day writing letters and completing arrangements 

 for the ship — a brisk northerly breeze sprang up in the night 

 and the ship bumped against the glacier until the pack came 

 in as protection from the swell. Ponies and dogs arrived about 

 I P.M., and at 5 we all went out for the final start. 



A little earlier Pennell had the men aft and I thanked them 

 for their splendid work. They have behaved like bricks and 

 a finer lot of fellows never sailed in a ship. It was good to get 

 their hearty send off. Before we could get away Ponting had 

 his half-hour photographing us, the ponies and the dog teams 

 — I hope he will have made a good thing of it. It was a little 

 sad to say farewell to all these good fellows and Campbell and 

 his men. I do most heartily trust that all will be successful in 

 their ventures, for indeed their unselfishness and their generous 

 high spirit deserves reward. God bless them. 



So here we are with all our loads. One wonders what the 

 upshot will be. It will take three days to transport the loads 

 to complete safety; the break up of the sea ice ought not to 

 catch us before that. The wind is from the S.E. again to-night. 



Friday, January 27. — Camp 2. Started at 9.30 and moved 

 a load of fodder 3^ miles south — returned to camp to lunch 

 — then shifted camp and provisions. Our weights are now 

 divided into three loads: two of food for ponies, one of men's 

 provisions with some ponies' food. It is slow work, but we 

 retreat slowly but surely from the chance of going out on the 

 sea ice. 



We are camped about a mile south of C. Armitage. After 

 camping I went to the east till abreast of Pram Point, finding 

 the ice dangerously thin off C. Armitage. It is evident we 

 must make a considerable detour to avoid danger. The rest 

 of the party went to the Discovery hut to see what could be 

 done towards digging it out. The report is unfavourable, as 

 I expected. The drift inside has become very solid — it would 

 take weeks of work to clear it. A great deal of biscuit and 

 some butter, cocoa, &c., was seen, so that we need not have any 

 anxiety about provisions if delayed in returning to Cape Evans. 



The dogs are very tired to-night. I have definitely handed 



