156 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [April 



which went down In fine style, fully packed — then the remainder 

 of the party. For the last three, drove a stake hard down in 

 the snow and used the rope round it, the men being lowered by 

 people below — came down last myself. Quite a neat and speedy 

 bit of work and all done in 20 minutes without serious frostbite 

 — quite pleased with the result. 



We found pulling to Glacier Tongue very heavy over the 

 surface of ice covered with salt crystals, and reached Glacier 

 Tongue about 5.30; found a low place and got the sledges up 

 the 6 ft. wall pretty easily. Stiff incline, but easy pulling on 

 hard surface — the light was failing and the surface criss-crossed 

 with innumerable cracks; several of us fell in these with risk 

 of strain, but the north side was well snow-covered and easy, 

 with a good valley leading to a low ice cliff — here a broken 

 piece afforded easy descent. I decided to push on for Cape 

 Evans, so camped for tea at 6. At 6.30 found darkness sud- 

 denly arrived; it was very difficult to see anything — we got down 

 on the sea ice, very heavy pulling, but plodded on for some 

 hours; at 10 arrived close under little Razor Back Island, and 

 not being able to see anything ahead, decided to camp and got 

 to sleep at 11.30 in no very comfortable circumstances. 



The wind commenced to rise during night. We found a roar- 

 ing blizzard in the morning. We had many alarms for the 

 safety of the ice on which the camp was pitched. Bowers and 

 Taylor climbed the island; reported wind terrific on the summit 

 — sweeping on either side but comparatively calm immediately 

 to windward and to leeward. Waited all day in hopes of a lull; 

 at 3 I went round the island myself with Bowers, and found a 

 little ice platform close under the weather side; resolved to shift 

 camp here. It took two very cold hours, but we gained great 

 shelter, the cliffs rising almost sheer from the tents. Only now 

 and again a whirling wind current eddied down on the tents, 

 which were well secured, but the noise of the wind sweeping 

 over the rocky ridge above our heads was deafening; we could 

 scarcely hear ourselves speak. Settled down for our second 

 night with little comfort, and slept better, knowing we could 

 not be swept out to sea, but provisions were left only for one 

 more meal. 



During the night the wind moderated and we could just 

 see outline of land. 



