THE POLAR JOURNEY 499 



part a simple, record of facts. There is seldom any com- 

 ment, and when there is you feel that, for this very reason, 

 it carries more weight. Just about this time : "December 

 24. Very promising, thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon 

 march " : " Christmas Day, and a real good and happy one 

 with a very long march" : "January 1, 1912. We had 

 only 6 hours' sleep last night by a mistake, but I had mine 

 solid in one piece, actually waking in exactly the same 

 position as I fell asleep in 6 hours before — never moved " : 

 " January 2. We were surprised to-day by seeing a Skua 

 gull flying over us — evidently hungry but not weak. Its 

 droppings, however, were clear mucus, nothing in them at 

 all. It appeared in the afternoon and disappeared again 

 about h hour after." And then on January 3 : " Last 

 night Scott told us what the plans were for the South Pole. 

 Scott, Oates, Bowers, Petty Officer Evans and I are to go 

 to the Pole. Teddie Evans is to return from here to-morrow 

 with Crean and Lashly. Scott finished his week's cooking 

 to-night and I begin mine to-morrow." Just that. 



The next day Bowers wrote : " I had my farewell break- 

 fast in the tent with Teddy Evans, Crean and Lashly. 

 After so little sleep the previous night I rather dreaded the 

 march. We gave our various notes, messages and letters 

 to the returning party and started off. They accompanied 

 us for about a mile before returning, to see that all was 

 going well. Our party were on ski with the exception of 

 myself: I first made fast to the central span, but after- 

 wards connected up to the toggle of the sledge, pulling in 

 the centre between the inner ends of Captain Scott's and 

 Dr. Wilson's traces. This was found to be the best place, 

 as I had to go my own step. 



" Teddy and party gave us three cheers, and Crean was 

 half in tears. They have a feather-weight sledge to go back 

 with of course, and ought to run down their distance 

 easily. 1 We found we could manage our load easily, and 

 did 6.3 miles before lunch, completing 12.5 by 7.15 p.m. 



1 It is to be noticed that every return party, including the Polar Party, was supposed 

 by their companions to be going to have a very much easier time than, as a matter of 

 fact, they had. — A. C.-G. 



