128 
SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [March 
walk of a mile or two tired us far more than a hard day's 
sledging had done a month before. 
Perhaps the worst feature in our present position, 
however, is the absence of any news from our comrades, 
and the fear which is naturally growing within us lest the 
ship should have got into some trouble during this heavy 
weather. 
February 29. — The wind dropped in the morning, 
and we had our first fine day since the 15 th. In the 
afternoon we pulled over and camped on the island south 
of the moraine, which we have named Inexpressible 
Island. In the evening after hoosh we climbed ' Look- 
out ' Hill, and saw what we thought was smoke on the 
horizon, and under it a small black speck. Unfortunately, 
it turned out to be only an iceberg with a cloud behind it, 
showing dark under a snow-squall. 
Soon after the wind and snow recommenced. 
March l. — The weather cleared at 10 a.m. I had 
decided to start killing seals for the winter to-day if there 
was no sign of the ship, so after seeing no sign of anything 
from Look-out Hill, we killed and cut up two seals and 
eighteen penguins. 
There are very few of the former up, and seals hate 
wind, so we must pray for fine weather to stock our larder, 
as the animals seldom leave the water in the winter. 
March 2 to 4. — It came on to blow hard in the 
night of the ist, and continued blowing steadily for the 
next three days. 
The gale reached its height on the 3rd, when the tent 
split and we had to shift camp on to a snowdrift, where we 
