370 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION Qanuary 



it was overcast, and we started our lightened sledge with a good 

 swing, but during the last two hours the sun cast shadows again, 

 and the work was distressingly hard. We have covered only 

 10-8 miles (geo.). 



Only 85 miles (geo.) from the Pole, but it's going to be a 

 stiff pull both ivays apparently; still we do make progress, which 

 is something. To-night the sky is overcast, the temperature 

 (- II') much higher than I anticipated; it is very difficult to 

 imagine what is happening to the weather. The sastrugi grow 

 more and more confused, running from S. to E. Very difficult 

 steering in uncertain light and with rapidly moving clouds. The 

 clouds don't seem to come from anywhere, form and disperse 

 without visible reason. The surface seems to be growing softer. 

 The meteorological conditions seem to point to an area of vari- 

 able light winds, and that plot will thicken as we advance. 



Thursday, January 11. — Lunch. Height 10,540. T. 

 — 15° 8'. It was heavy pulling from the beginning to-day, but 

 for the first two and a half hours we could keep the sledge 

 moving; then the sun came out (it had been overcast and snow- 

 ing with light south-easterly breeze) and the rest of the fore- 

 noon was agonising. I never had such pulling; all the time the 

 sledge rasps and creaks. We have covered 6 miles, but at 

 fearful cost to ourselves. 



Night camp 63. Height 10,530. Temp. - 16-3°. Mini- 

 mum -25-8°. Another hard grind in the afternoon and five 

 miles added. About 74 miles from the Pole — can we keep this 

 up for seven days? It takes it out of us like anything. None 

 of us ever had such hard work before. Cloud has been coming 

 and going ov^erhead all day, drifting from the S.E., but con- 

 tinually altering shape. Snow crystals falling all the time; a very 

 light S. breeze at start soon dying away. The sun so bright and 

 warm to-night that it is almost impossible to imagine a minus 

 temperature. The snow seems to get softer as we advance; 

 the sastrugi, though sometimes high and undercut, are not hard 

 — no crusts, except yesterday the surface subsided once, as on 

 the Barrier. It seems pretty certain there is no steady wind here. 

 Our chance still holds good if we can put the work in, but it's 

 a terribly trying time. 



Friday, January 12. — Camp 64. T. - 17-5°. Lat. 88° 57'. 

 Another heavy march with snow getting softer all the time. Sun 



