THE SEARCH JOURNEY 493 



it is only a mark and it does not mean a camp : they are all 

 well fed, and fairly fat and in good condition. With a large 

 number of dogs I suppose one team can go ahead when it 

 is going well — changing places with another — each keep- 

 ing the others going. But I do not think that these dogs 

 now will do much more ; but they have already done as 

 much as any dogs of which we have any record. 



The land is clearing gradually. I have never seen such 

 contrasts of black rock and white snow, and White Island 

 was capped with great ranges of black cumulus, over which 

 rose the pure white peaks of the Royal Society Range in a 

 blue sky. The Barrier itself was quite a deep'grey, making 

 a beautiful picture. And now Observation Hill and Castle 

 Rock are in front. I don't suppose I shall ever see this 

 view again : but it is associated with many memories of 

 returning to home and plenty after some long and hard 

 journeys: in some ways I feel sorry — but I have seen it 

 often enough. 



November 25. Early morning. We came in 24 miles 

 with our loads, to find the best possible news — Campbell's 

 Party, all well, are at Cape Evans. They arrived here on 

 November 6, starting from Evans Coves on September 30. 

 What a relief it is, and how different things seem now! It 

 is the first real bit of good news since February last — it 

 seems an age. We mean to get over the sea-ice, if possible, 

 as soon as we can, and then we shall hear their story. 



November 26. Early morning. Starting from Hut Point 

 about 6.45 p.m. last evening, we came through by about 

 9 p.m., and sat up talking and hearing all the splendid news 

 till past 2 a.m. this morning. 



All the Northern Party look very fat and fit, and they are 

 most cheerful about the time they have had, and make light 

 of all the anxious days they must have spent and their hard 

 times. 



I cannot write all their story. When the ship was 

 battling with the pack to try and get in to them they had 

 open water in Terra Nova Bay to the horizon, as seen from 

 200 feet high. They prepared for the winter, digging their 

 hut into a big snowdrift a mile from where they were 



