i 9 o 3 ] THE PRE-ARRANGED PROGRAMME 117 



Island, and Cape Crozier. Especially in the last place, as the 

 most southerly, I hinted that news of us might be looked for ; 

 the relief ship was to endeavour to pick up such clues as might 

 be found in this way, but if this was unproductive or signified that 

 we had passed to the eastward without returning, she was to 

 turn homeward after having landed provisions and stores at 

 certain definite spots. 



It will be seen, therefore, that it was in order to act up to 

 this pre-arranged plan that we had left records at such of the 

 named places as we could approach, and that I had been so 

 anxious to establish sledge communication with the record at 

 Cape Crozier. For this enabled me to start south with the 

 knowledge that a relief ship might gather meagre information 

 at Cape Adare and Coulman Island, whilst, should she recover 

 the Cape Crozier record, she would at once ascertain our 

 whereabouts. 



Captain Colbeck's instructions were to fall in with the 

 purport of my letter, but the manner in which he should do so 

 was left entirely to his discretion, and wisely, for with such 

 slender information as was available no one could have acted 

 more promptly or with greater discretion. 



Thus it came about that whilst we were surmounting the 

 difficulties of the great snow-plain and finding a way amongst 

 the mountain ranges, the gallant little ' Morning ' was hurrying 

 towards us, eager to perform her helpful mission and bring us 

 news of our distant home. 



Small as she was, and without the ability to force a way 

 through heavy pack-ice, her voyage to the South was full of 

 adventure, and is a record of difficulties overcome by sturdy 

 perseverance ; but of this I hope that Captain Colbeck will 

 himself tell one day. On December 25 he crossed the Ant- 

 arctic Circle, and a short way to the south, to his great 

 surprise, discovered some small islands which he has since 

 done me the great honour of naming the Scott Islands. The 

 pack was negotiated successfully, if slowly, and on January 8 

 a larding was effected at Cape Adare, where the notice of the 

 'Discovery's' safe arrival in the South was found. The 



