186 WITH SCOTT : THE SILVER LINING 



we were ascending, and wondered where the tide crack was. 

 We had steered for the cone all the way to reach the incline as 

 used by Evans (day of Vince disaster, 1902). 



"Just about 2 p.m., I guessed we were over the tide crack, 

 and the sun appeared and showed us we were one-third way 

 up the mountain ! So we joyfully had lunch in the strong 

 wind. Then transferred all necessaries to the big sledge 

 (including ski boots), and left about 3.30 for the climb to 

 Castle Rock. Not half so bad as expected, steady pull up 

 eight degrees (about four miles), only two stops. Reached 

 the top at c.30, without trouble except for some slipping on 

 hard snow. We zig-zagged a bit. Castle Rock is composed 

 of agglomerate with brownish outer zone, over a darker centre. 

 Height about 150 feet (boss). We had a short rest. A very 

 strong wind blowing across us now. Evans evidently had 

 Vince in mind, and wouldn't let us pull quickly, though on a 

 broad platform. We saw here a team track, apparently a dog 

 team with sledgemeter. We had arguments as to its meaning 

 and decided only one unit back. C. S. W. reckoned all the 

 ponies i gone under ' as no tracks. Plateau one and a half 

 miles long and one thousand feet high. Then we saw four 

 men over towards Crater Heights. A great sight, though 

 comic, to see arms swinging and fat wind clothes. Not 

 like Penguins ! They came towards us. We guessed 

 the names all wrong, except Birdie. (They were Dr. 

 Bill, Atch, and Cherry.) We heard all were safe and 

 back, that the queer tracks were due to rescue of Bowers, 

 Crean, and Garrard. They took our sledge down Ski Slope. 

 Dr. Bill said, 'Go and see the Owner.' They were just 

 expecting us. I put on crampons and met Scott. He told me 

 of loss of ponies. Of the eight, three died in blizzard, three 

 lost on floe, so only two left. We got to the hut about 7 p.m. 

 Found it all cleared out by Atch and Keohane ; very dark and 

 sooty from the blubber stove. Only one lantern, we sat 

 around ; and pots served out in fixed order. Owner arranged 

 for us to sleep in the ' Sanctuary,' opposite window. We had 

 one lantern over stove, and then turned in to wet bags and 

 slept fairly. Gran gave us finnesko. Will get Gran and 

 Garrard's yarns after." 



