398 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [February 



S.E. with strong surface drift. We lost the faint track immedi- 

 ately, though covering ground fairly rapidly. Lunch came with- 

 out sight of the cairn we had hoped to pass. In the afternoon, 

 Bowers being sure we were too far to the west, steered out. 

 Result, we have passed another pony camp v/ithout seeing it. 

 Looking at the map to-night there is no doubt we are too far 

 to the east. With clear weather we ought to be able to correct 

 the mistake, but will the weather get clear? It's a gloomy 

 position, more especially as one sees the same difficulty returning 

 even when we have corrected the error. The wind is dying 

 down to-night and the sky clearing in the south, which is hopeful. 

 Meanwhile it is satisfactory to note that such untoward events 

 fail to damp the spirit of the party. To-night we had a pony 

 hoosh so excellent and filling that one feels really strong and 

 vigorous again. 



TJiiirsday, February 23. — R.37. Lunch Temp. -9-8°; Sup- 

 per Temp. - 12°, Started in sunshine, wind almost dropped. 

 Luckily Bowers took a round of angles and with help of the chart 

 we fogged out that we must be inside rather than outside tracks. 

 The data were so meagre that it seemed a great responsibility 

 to march out and we were none of us happy about it. But just 

 as we decided to lunch. Bowers' wonderful sharp eyes detected 

 an old double lunch cairn, the theodolite telescope confirmed it, 

 and our spirits rose accordingly. This afternoon we marched on 

 and picked up another cairn; then on and camped only 23^ 

 miles from the depot. We cannot see it, but, given fine weather, 

 we cannot miss it. We are, therefore, extraordinarily relieved. 

 Covered 8-2 miles in 7 hours, showing we can do 10 to 12 on 

 this surface. Things are again looking up, as we are on the 

 regular line of cairns, with no gaps right home, I hope. 



Friday, February 24. — Lunch. Beautiful day — too beautiful 

 — an hour after starting loose ice crystals spoiling surface. Saw 

 depot and reached it middle forenoon. Found store in order 

 except shortage oil ~^' — shall have to be very saving with fuel — 

 otherwise have ten full days' provision from to-night and shall 

 have less than 70 miles to go. Note from Meares who passed 

 through December 15, saying surface bad; from Atkinson, after 

 fine marching (2% days from pony depot), reporting Keohane 

 better after sickness. Short note from Evans, not very cheer- 

 ful, saying surface bad, temperature high. Think he must have 



