76 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [January 



he does not know or a single article of any sort which he cannot 

 put his hand on at once. 



Rennick and Bruce are working gallantly at the discharge of 

 stores on board. 



Williamson and Leese load the sledges and are getting very 

 clever and expeditious. Evans (seaman) is generally superin- 

 tending the sledging and camp outfit. Forde, Keohane, and 

 Abbott are regularly assisting the carpenter, whilst Day, Lashly, 

 Lillie, and others give intermittent help. 



Wilson, Cherry-Garrard, Wright, Griffith Taylor, Deben- 

 ham, Crean, and Browning have been driving ponies, a task 

 at which I have assisted myself once or twice. There was a 

 report that the ice was getting rotten, but I went over it myself 

 and found it sound throughout. The accident with the motor 

 sledge has made people nervous. 



The weather has been very warm and fine on the whole, 

 with occasional gleams of sunshine, but to-night there is a rather 

 chill wind from the south. The hut is progressing famously. 

 In two more working days we ought to have everything neces- 

 sary on shore. 



Tuesday, January 10. We have been six days in McMurdo 

 Sound and to-night I can say we are landed. Were it impossible 

 to land another pound we could go on without hitch. Nothing 

 like it has been done before; nothing so expeditious and com- 

 plete. This morning the main loads were fodder. Sledge after 

 sledge brought the bales, and early in the afternoon the last 

 (except for about a ton stowed with Eastern Party stores) was 

 brought on shore. Some addition to our patent fuel was made 

 in the morning, and later in the afternoon it came in a steady 

 stream. We have more than 12 tons and could make this do if 

 necessity arose. 



In addition to this oddments have been arriving all day 

 instruments, clothing, and personal effects. Our camp is becom- 

 ing so perfect in its appointments that I am almost suspicious 

 of some drawback hidden by the summer weather. 



The hut is progressing apace, and all agree that it should 

 be the most perfectly comfortable habitation. ' It amply re- 

 pays the time and attention given to the planning.' The sides 

 have double boarding inside and outside the frames, with a 



