SUSPENSE 429 



Owing to the lateness of the year, and the likelihood of our 

 being unable to make our way up the coast to Campbell, 

 one or two members suggested that another journey might 

 be made to Corner Camp. Knowing the conditions which 

 had lately prevailed on the Barrier, I took it upon myself 

 to decide the uselessness of this." * 



All was well at Cape Evans. Winds and temperatures 

 had both been high, the latter being in marked contrast to 

 the low temperatures we had experienced at Hut Point, 

 which averaged as much as 1 5 lower than those that were 

 recorded in the previous year. The seven mules were well, 

 but three of the new dogs had died : we were always being 

 troubled by that mysterious disease. 



Before she left for New Zealand the following members 

 of our company joined the ship: Simpson, who had to re- 

 turn to his work in India; Griffith Taylor, who had been 

 lent to us by the Australian Government for only one year; 

 Ponting, whose photographic work was done ; Day, whose 

 work with the motors was done ; Meares, who was recalled 

 by family affairs ; Forde, whose hand had never recovered 

 the effects of frost-bite during the spring ; Clissold, who 

 fell off a berg and concussed himself; and Anton, whose 

 work with the ponies was done. Lieutenant Evans was in- 

 valided home. 



Archer had been landed to take Clissold's place as cook ; 

 another seaman, Williamson, was landed to take Forde's 

 place, and of our sledging companions he was the only 

 fresh man. Wright was probably the most fit after him, 

 and otherwise we had no one who, under ordinary circum- 

 stances, would have been considered fit to go out sledging 

 again this season, especially at a time when the sun was just 

 leaving us for the winter. We were sledged out. 



The next few days were occupied in making prepara- 

 tions for a further sledge journey, and on April 13a party 

 started to return to Hut Point by the Hutton Cliffs. Atkin- 

 son, Wright, Keohane and Williamson were to try and 

 sledge up the western coast to help Campbell : Gran and 

 Dimitri were to stay with me at Hut Point. The surface of 



1 Atkinson in Scott's Last Expedition, vol. ii. p. 31. 



