296 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [October 



He must have made the pace, which is promising for the dogs. 

 Sixty geographical miles in two days and a night is good going 

 about as good as can be. 



I have had to tell Clissold that he cannot go out with the 

 Motor Party, to his great disappointment. He improves very 

 steadily, however, and I trust will be fit before we leave with 

 the ponies. Hooper replaces him with the motors. I am kept 

 very busy writing and preparing details. 



We have had two days of northerly wind, a very unusual 

 occurrence; yesterday it was blowing S.E., force 8, temp. - i6, 

 whilst here the wind was north, force 4, temp. - 6. This con- 

 tinued for some hours a curious meteorological combination. 

 We are pretty certain of a southerly blizzard to follow, I should 

 think. 



Wednesday, October 18. The southerly blizzard has burst 

 on us. The air is thick with snow. 



A close investigation of the motor axle case shows that 

 repair is possible. It looks as though a good strong job could 

 be made of it. Yesterday Taylor and Debenham went to Cape 

 Royds with the object of staying a night or two. 



Sunday, October 22. The motor axle case was completed 

 by Thursday morning, and, as far as one can see, Day made a 

 very excellent job of it. Since that the Motor Party has been 

 steadily preparing for its departure. To-day everything is ready. 

 The loads are ranged on the sea ice, the motors are having a trial 

 run, and, all remaining well with the weather, the party will 

 get away to-morrow. 



Meares and Demetri came down on Thursday through the 

 last of the blizzard. At one time they were running without 

 sight of the leading dogs they did not see Tent Island at all, 

 but burst into sunshine and comparative calm a mile from the 

 station. Another of the best of the dogs, ' Czigane,' was smit- 

 ten with the unaccountable sickness; he was given laxative medi- 

 cine and appears to be a little better, but we are still anxious. 

 If he really has the disease, whatever it may be, the rally is 

 probably only temporary and the end will be swift. 



The teams left on Friday afternoon, Czigane included; to- 

 day Meares telephones that he is setting out for his second 

 journey to Corner Camp without him. On the whole the weather 

 continues wretchedly bad; the ponies could not be exercised 



