iv PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE 91 



blizzard. Gates said, " I am just going outside and I may 

 be some time." He went into the blizzard, and we have not 

 seen him since. 



Oates felt death upon him, and knowing he held his 

 companions back, went from them to meet it. No more 

 appropriate epitaph was ever written than " Here- 

 abouts lies a very gallant gentleman," marked upon a 

 post near where Oates walked to his death amid the 

 Antarctic snows. 



On March 21st, 1912, Capt. Scott, Dr. Wilson and 

 Lieut. Bowers were forced, on account of a blizzard, to 

 camp in latitude 79 40' S., eleven miles from a depot 

 where there was at least a ton of stores. They had 

 food for two days and fuel for one hot meal. The 

 blizzard prevented them from leaving their tent, and 

 when they had been imprisoned for four days, Capt. 

 Scott wrote his last message and his final appeal on 

 behalf of those who are left behind. He wrote : 



We took risks we know we took them. Things have come 

 out against us, and therefore we have no cause for complaint, 

 but bow to the will of Providence, determined still to do our 

 best to the last. 



The message signed, Capt. Scott placed it with his diary 

 between his head and the tent-pole, and, leaning against 

 the pole, met the end. The remains of Capt. Scott and 

 his two companions were not found until the following 

 November, when the heroes were reverently laid to rest. 

 But though they have entered into their long sleep, 

 from the solitude of the polar waste of snow and ice 

 where they lie their spirits have risen triumphant to 

 testify to the world the greatness of human endeavour 

 and the glory of self-sacrifice for the purpose of increasing 

 knowledge. 



