A LAST EFFORT 211 



an over-strained heart; it was a very sad blow to him to realise 

 that he was unable to help during this anxious time, and it was a 

 hard measure to have to tell him that further sledging that year 

 was impossible for him. 



Realising that something had to be done, I proposed to Keo- 

 hane that he should come out alone with me. He was cheerful 

 and willing and proved of the very greatest service during a very 

 trying time. 



We discussed fully the probable dates of the return of the 

 party to certain points and the possibility of two men being able 

 to render them material assistance. Owing to the bad light and 

 the time of the year, the probabilities were that they could only 

 be met at depots. 



On March 26 Keohane and I, having eighteen days' food 

 for ourselves and the major portion of a week's ration for the 

 Polar Party, started south. On the first day we made good about 

 nine miles after a very hard pull. The temperature was exceed- 

 ingly low but the weather fair. Oilr .minimum thermometer 

 failed on this journey, so that there was no accurate record of the 

 temperatures. After a sleepless night we started at 8.30 and 

 made good another nine miles. The day was overcast and there 

 was no point to steer by. The weather continued cold and there 

 was practically no sleep at night in the tent occupied by only two 

 men. 



On March 29 it was again overcast, with strong breeze; we 

 made good eleven miles and then, the weather clearing, we real- 

 ised that we were too far in to White Island amongst the 

 pressure. 



On the 3Oth we made out from White Island, then a few 

 miles south of Corner Camp. We returned to the motor, taking 

 up the sledge left there by Lieutenant Evans, and then on to 

 Corner Camp. Taking into consideration the weather and tem- 

 peratures and the time of the year, and the hopelessness of find- 

 ing the party except at any definite point like a depot, I decided 

 to return from here. We depoted the major portion of a week's 

 provisions to enable them to communicate with Hut Point in 

 case they should reach this point. At this date in my own mind I 

 was morally certain that the party had perished, and in fact on 

 March 29 Captain Scott, 1 1 miles south of One Ton Depot, 

 made the last entry in his diary. 



