I02 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION Uanuary 



we suppose. A moulting Emperor penguin was sleeping between 

 them. The canvas on one tent seemed intact, but half stripped 

 from the other. 



The ponies pulled splendidly to-day, as also the dogs, but 

 we have decided to load both lightly from now on, to march 

 them easily, and to keep as much life as possible in them. There 

 is much to be learnt as to their powers of performance. 



Keohane says ' Come on, lad, you'll be getting to the Pole ' 

 by way of cheering his animal — all the party is cheerful, there 

 never were a better set of people. 



Sunday, January 29. — Camp 2. This morning after break- 

 fast I read prayers. Excellent day. The seven good ponies have 

 made two journeys to the Barrier, covering 18 geographical 

 miles, half with good loads — none of them were at all done. 

 Oates' pony, a spirited, nervous creature, got away at start 

 when his head was left for a moment and charged through the 

 camp at a gallop; finally his sledge cannoned Into another, the 

 swingle tree broke, and he galloped away, kicking furiously at 

 the dangling trace. Oates fetched him when he had quieted 

 down, and we found that nothing had been hurt or broken 

 but the swingle tree. 



Gran tried going on ski with his pony. All went well while 

 he w^as alongside, but when he came up from the back the swish 

 of the ski frightened the beast, who fled faster than his pur- 

 suer — that Is, the pony and load were going better than the 

 Norwegian on ski. 



Gran Is doing very well. He has a lazy pony and a good 

 deal of work to get him along, and does it very cheerfully. 



The dogs are doing excellently — getting Into better con- 

 dition every day. 



They ran the first load i mile 1200 yards past the stores 

 on the Barrier, to the spot chosen for ' Safety Camp,' the big 

 home depot. 



I don't think that any part of the Barrier Is likely to go, 

 but it's just as well to be prepared for everything, and our 

 camp must deserve Its distinctive title of ' Safety.' 



In the afternoon the dogs ran a second load to the same 

 place — covering over 24 geographical miles In the day — an ex- 

 cellent day's work.^^ 



