1902] START OF THE SOUTHERN JOURNEY 7 



The southern supporting party, as I have said, consisted 

 of Mr. Barne with eleven men ; and as it was expected that at 

 first, at any rate, the dogs would outstrip the men, it was 

 decided that this party should start on October 30, but that 

 the dog team should not leave until a few days later. All were 

 to meet at the depot which I had laid out, and which was now 

 known as Depot ' A.' 



Accordingly, on October 30, I record : ' The supporting 

 party started this morning, amidst a scene of much enthusiasm ; 

 all hands had a day off, and employed it in helping to drag the 

 sledges for several miles. The sledges carried some decora- 

 tions : Barne's banner floated on the first, the next bore a 

 Union Jack, and another carried a flag with a large device 

 stating " No dogs need apply " ; the reference was obvious. It 

 was an inspiriting sight to see nearly the whole of our small 

 company step out on the march with ringing cheers, and to 

 think that all work of this kind promised to be done as heartily. 

 Later Shackleton had a trial trip with the dogs to get our 

 runners in better order, and the animals started so strongly that 

 they carried away the central trace and started to gallop off ; 

 but luckily they all wanted to go in different directions, and so 

 didn't get far, and, luckily also, there were a few of us about 

 to prevent the worst effect of the inevitable fights.' 



' November 2. — . . . We are off at last. By ten this 

 morning the dogs were harnessed and all was ready for a start ; 

 the overcast sky was showing signs of a break in the south. 

 Every soul was gathered on the floe to bid us farewell, and 

 many were prepared to accompany us for the first few miles. 

 A last look was given to our securings, the traces were finally 

 cleared, and away we went amidst the wild cheers of our 

 comrades. The dogs have never been in such form ; despite 

 the heavy load, for the first two miles two men had to sit on the 

 sledges to check them, and even thus it was as much as the 

 rest of us could do to keep up by running alongside. One by 

 one our followers tailed off, and by noon we three were alone 

 with our animals and still breathlessly trying to keep pace with 

 them. Soon after lunch we saw a dark spot far ahead, and 



