8o SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [January 
' Whilst I hope that you may be able to land in King 
Edward's Land, I fully realise the possibility of the con- 
ditions being unfavourable and the difhculty of the task 
which has been set you. 
' I do not think you should attempt a landing unless 
the Ship can remain in security near you for at least 
three days, unless all your stores can be placed in a position 
of safety in a shorter time. 
^ The Ship will give you all possible help in erecting 
your hut, &c., but I hope you will not find it necessary 
to keep her by you for any length of time. 
' Should you succeed in landing, the object you will 
hold in view is to discover the nature and extent of 
King Edward's Land. The possibilities of your situation 
are so various that it must be left to you entirely to 
determine how this object may best be achieved. 
* In this connexion it remains only to say that you 
should be at your winter station and ready to embark 
on February i, 1912. 
'If the Ship should not arrive by February 15, 
and your circumstances permit, you should commence 
to retreat across the Barrier, keeping at first near the 
edge in order to see the Ship should she pass. 
' It would be a wise precaution to lay out a depot 
in this direction at an earlier date, and I trust that a 
further depot will be provided in some inlet as you go 
east in the Ship. 
' When I hear that you have been safely landed in 
King Edward's Land I shall take steps to ensure that 
a third depot is laid out. This will be placed by the 
