376 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION 



the note. There is no doubt that our predecessors have made 

 thoroughly sure of their mark and fully carried out their pro- 

 gramme. I think the Pole is about 9500 feet in height; this is 

 remarkable, considering that in Lat. 88° we were about 10,500. 

 We carried the Union Jack about ^i of a mile north with us 

 and left it on a piece of stick as near as we could fix it. I fancy 

 the Norwegians arrived at the Pole on the 15th Dec. and left on 

 the 17th, ahead of a date quoted by me in London as ideal, 

 viz. Dec. 22. It looks as though the Norwegian party expected 

 colder weather on the summit than they got; it could scarcely 

 be otherwise from Shackleton's account. Well, we have turned 

 our back now on the goal of our ambition and must face our 

 800 miles of solid dragging — and good-bye to most of the day- 

 dreams! 



