4 i 6 WORST JOURNEY IN THE WORLD 



geographical miles a day ; seeing also that the First Return 

 Party had averaged 14.2 geographical miles on their return 

 from 8 5 3' S. to One Ton Depot; and the Second Return 

 Party had averaged 1 1 .2 geographical miles on their return 

 from 8 7 32' S. to the same place, although one of the 

 three men was seriously ill ; it was supposed that all the 

 previous estimates made for the return of the Polar Party 

 were too late, and that the opportunity to reach One Ton 

 Camp before them had been lost. Meanwhile the full 

 rations for their return over the 140 miles (statute) from 

 One Ton to Hut Point were still at Hut Point. 



My orders were given me by Atkinson, and were verbal, 

 as follows : 



1. To take 24 days' food for the two men, and 21 

 days' food for the two dog-teams, together with the food 

 for the Polar Party. 



2. To travel to One Ton Depot as fast as possible and 

 leave the food there. 



3. If Scott had not arrived at One Ton Depot before 

 me I was to judge what to do. 



4. That Scott was not in any way dependent on the 

 dogs for his return. 



5. That Scott had given particular instructions that the 

 dogs were not to be risked in view of the sledging plans 

 for next season. 



Since it had proved impossible to take the depot of 

 dog-food, together with the full Polar Party rations, to One 

 Ton before this; considering the unforeseen circumstances 

 which had arisen ; and seeing that this journey of the dog- 

 teams was not indispensable, being simply meant to bring 

 the last party home more speedily, I do not believe that 

 better instructions could have been given than these of 

 Atkinson. 



I was eager to start as soon as the team which had come 

 back from Cape Evans was rested, but a blizzard pre- 

 vented this. On the morning of the 25th it was thick as a 

 hedge, but it cleared enough to pack sledges in the after- 

 noon, and when we turned into our bags we could see 

 Observation Hill. We started at 2 a.m. that night. 



