THE DEPOT JOURNEY 173 
her little party, consisting of Sunny Jim, Ponting, Nelson, 
Day, Lashly, Hooper, Clissold, Dimitri and Anton. Pont- 
ing’s face was a study as he ran up; he failed to recognize 
any of us and stopped dead with a blank look—as he 
admitted afterwards, he thought it was the Norwegian ex- 
pedition for the space of a moment ; and then we were all 
being greeted as heartily as if we had really done something 
to be proud of. 
‘The motors had had to be shifted, and a lot of gear 
placed higher up the beach, but the water had never 
reached near the hut, so all was well. Inside it looked tre- 
mendous, and we looked at our grimy selves in a glass for 
the first time for three months; no wonder Ponting did not 
recognize the rufhans. He photographed a group of us, 
which will amuse you some day, when it is permissible to 
send photos. We ate heartily and had hot baths and gener- 
ally civilized ourselves. I have since concluded that the 
hut is the finest place in the southern hemisphere, but 
then I could not shake down to it at once. I hankered for a 
sleeping-bag out on the snow, or for the blubbery atmo- 
sphere of Hut Point. I expect the truth of the matter was 
that all my special pals, Bill, Cherry, Titus, and Atch, had 
been left behind. 
“We found eight ponies at Winter Quarters in the 
stable, Hackenschmidt having died. These with our two 
at Hut Point left us with ten to start the winter with. I 
at once looked out the other big Siberian horse that had 
been a pair with my late lamented (they were the only 
Siberian ponies, all the rest being Manchurians) and 
singled him out for myself, should ‘the powers that be’ 
be willing. 
“A party hadtoreturn to Hut Point with some provision 
in a day or two, so I asked to go. Captain Scott had decided 
to go himself, but said he would be very pleased if I would 
go too; soit being a fine day we left the following Monday. 
The two teams consisted of Captain Scott, Lashly, Day 
and Dimitri with one tent and sledge, and Crean, Hooper, 
Nelson and myself with the other. We had it fine as far 
-as the Glacier Tongue ; and then along came the cheery 
4 
