542 WORST JOURNEY IN THE WORLD 



had - 30 in the day, - 47 at night pretty regularly, with 

 continuous head-wind during our day marches. It is clear 

 that these circumstances come on very suddenly, and our 

 wreck is certainly due to this sudden advent of severe 

 weather, which does not seem to have any satisfactory 

 cause. I do not think human beings ever came through 

 such a month as we have come through, and we should 

 have got through' in spite of the weather but for the sick- 

 ening of a second companion, Captain Oates, and a short- 

 age of fuel in our depots for which I cannot account, and 

 finally, but for the storm which has fallen on us within 1 1 

 miles of the depot at which we hoped to secure our final 

 supplies. Surely misfortune could scarcely have exceeded 

 this last blow. We arrived within 1 1 miles of our old One 

 Ton Camp with fuel for one last meal and food for two days. 

 For four days we have been unable to leave the tent — the 

 gale howling about us. We are weak, writing is difficult, 

 but for my own sake I do not regret this journey, which 

 has shown that Englishmen can endure hardships, help 

 one another, and meet death with as great a fortitude as 

 ever in the past. We took risks, we knew 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. But if we have 

 been willing to give our lives to this enterprise, which is 

 for the honour of our country, I appeal to our countrymen 

 to see that those who depend on us are properly cared for. 

 Had we lived, I should have had a tale to tell of the 

 hardihood, endurance, and courage of my companions 

 which would have stirred the heart of every Englishman. 

 These rough notes and our dead bodies must tell the tale, 

 but surely, surely a great rich country like ours will see 

 that those who are dependent on us are properly provided 

 for. — R. Scott. 1 



1 Scott's Last Expedition, vol. i. pp. 605-607. 



