364 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [January 



morning told off Teddy Evans, Lashly, and Crean to return. 

 They are disappointed, but take it well. Bowers is to come into 

 our tent, and we proceed as a five man unit to-morrow. We have 

 $y 2 units of food practically over a month's allowance for five 

 people it ought to see us through. We came along well on ski 

 to-day, but the foot-haulers were slow, and so we only got a trifle 

 over 12 miles (geo.). Very anxious to see how we shall manage 

 to-morrow; if we can march well with the full load we shall be 

 practically safe, I take it. The surface was very bad in patches 

 to-day and the wind strong. 



' Lat. 87 32'. A last note from a hopeful position. I think 

 it's going to be all right. We have a fine party going forward 

 and arrangements are all going well.' 



Thursday, January 4. T. - 17 , Lunch T. - 16-5. We 

 were naturally late getting away this morning, the sledge having 

 to be packed and arrangements completed for separation of 

 parties. It is wonderful to see how neatly everything stows on 

 a little sledge, thanks to P.O. Evans. I was anxious to see how 

 we could pull it, and glad to find we went easy enough. Bowers 

 on foot pulls between, but behind, Wilson and myself; he has 

 to keep his own pace and luckily does not throw us out at all. 



The second party had followed us in case of accident, but 

 as soon as I was certain we could get along we stopped and said 

 farewell. Teddy Evans is terribly disappointed but has taken 

 it very well and behaved like a man. Poor old Crean wept and 

 even Lashly was affected. I was glad to find their sledge is a 

 mere nothing to them, and thus, no doubt, they will make a quick 

 journey back. 24 Since leaving them we have marched on till 

 1. 1 5 and covered 6-2 miles (geo.). With full marching days we 

 ought to have no difficulty in keeping up our average. 



Night camp 57. T. - 16 . Height 10,280. We started 

 well on the afternoon march, going a good speed for 1^2 hours; 

 then we came on a stratum covered with loose sandy snow, and 

 the pulling became very heavy. We managed to get off 12^ 

 miles (geo.) by 7 P.M., but it was very heavy work. 



In the afternoon the wind died away, and to-night it is flat 

 calm; the sun so warm that in spite of the temperature we can 

 stand about outside in the greatest comfort. It is amusing to 

 stand thus and remember the constant horrors of our situation 

 as they were painted for us : the sun is melting the snow on the 



