122 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [NOVEMBER 



clothes, and food, so as to travel light to Cape Evans. I was 

 very anxious to get there as soon as possible, as I thought there 

 was a chance that there might be one or two mules or enough 

 dogs to enable me to follow the search party. It had been a 

 great disappointment for us to have missed them by a week, as 

 we were all anxious to join in the search. 



November 7. 4 A.M. A lovely morning. After a hasty 

 breakfast we were off, arriving at Cape Evans at 5 P.M. We 

 found no one at home, but a letter on the door of the hut gave 

 us all the news and the names of the lost party. Very soon 

 Debenham and Archer returned, giving us a most hearty wel- 

 come, and no one can realise what it meant to us to see new 

 faces and to be home after our long winter. Our clothes, let- 

 ters, etc., had been landed from the ship, and we were able to 

 read our home letters, which we had only time to glance at in 

 the ship in February. Archer provided a sumptuous dinner that 

 night, and we sailed into it in a way that made Debenham hold 

 his breath. A bath and change of clothes completed the 

 transformation. 



November 8. Weather overcast, with a cold south-easterly 

 wind of medium force. I went round with Debenham and was 

 much surprised at the amount of stores. If we were down for 

 another winter there should be no lack. Our clothes had been 

 landed by the ship. There was nothing we wanted except boots, 

 of which I served out one pair to each. 



It was hopeless to think of following the search party, the 

 only transport being a few dogs that had been left behind, as they 

 were slow or weak. Atkinson's plans were to push on and search 

 to the top of the Beardmore Glacier unless he found traces of 

 the party before, so there was no hope of catching him. I find our 

 party are not so fit as I thought. Most of us have developed 

 swollen ankles and legs (oedema), and when the flesh is pressed 

 in the holes remain there. 



From November 8 till the return of the sledge party we were 

 all very busy transcribing our last winter's diaries, developing 

 photographs, and renewing what of our outfit we were unable 

 to replace. 



On the i ith Levick, Abbott and Dickason left for Hut Point, 

 and the next day but one they returned, bringing with them our 



