214 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [APRIL 



we reached some old sea ice which had probably been there for 

 two years or more. We then proceeded over a very good sur- 

 face through a cold day, towards the pinnacled ice and com- 

 pleted 13 miles for that day. The minimum for the night was 

 43. We did not sleep very well and started breakfast at 7 A.M. 

 in the dark. The temperature for the whole day was about 

 minus 40. We made good progress over this same old sea 

 ice and luckily we were able to skirt the edge of the pinnacled ice. 

 We camped finally about four miles from the Eskers on the west- 

 ern shore, four miles of new sea ice intervening between us and 

 them. On this night there were five penguins on the old sea ice 

 by our camp. This was disturbing, as it meant the near presence 

 of open water. The minimum for the night was minus 45. 

 When the morning broke, we saw that a blizzard was impending 

 and we knew it was a matter of speed if we were to cross the 

 new sea ice in safety. Luckily the wind favoured us. We set 

 sail and practically ran with the sledge for two miles before it. 

 The wind then falling light our progress became very slow over 

 a bad surface. To add to our anxiety we could see several Em- 

 peror penguins making towards the old sea ice and big leads 

 opening and frost smoke rising from the breaking up of the 

 new sea ice. Eventually we reached the Eskers in safety. We 

 proceeded over a very bad surface from Butter Point for four 

 miles and then, a strong blizzard setting in, we had to camp. 

 This blizzard proved far from being a friend. With it the tem- 

 perature rose to zero, and our clothing and our bags, which were 

 already full of ice, became saturated, making us in a very un- 

 comfortable state. 



On the 2Oth in the morning, after 3 miles, we reached the 

 depot on the northern end of Butter Point. This depot had been 

 left there earlier in the season by the ship. We camped and had 

 some tea. Having struck camp, while we were harnessing up 

 Williamson exclaimed, ' Lord, look at that I ' The sea ice at the 

 foot of the Point was gradually breaking up and sailing out to 

 sea. This meant that it was impossible for a party to travel 

 up the coast to the relief of Campbell, and we necessarily had 

 to turn back from this point. It also meant that it was impos- 

 sible for Campbell and his party to make their way down the 

 coast and that in all probability he and his party would have to 

 winter at Evans Coves. The question of their travelling on such 



