226 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [Novkmber 
'i'liis time il. lasted 36 Jiours. I^larly on Saturday 
nnu'ning I couUl just see tlic Western Mountains. Tlie 
drift covered tlie door and of course the sledges were 
l)uried. We put up a depot (lag and started back at 
4.^0 A.M. for lu'adcpiarters. We had now only the 
sleepiu^-hags, cooker, tent, and one day's food. But 
owing to tlie surface, that 23 miles was stilT going. I 
thought we shoultl he in by noon, but it took us just 
twelve hours to reach the dead penguins and refuse 
whicli unavoidably cliaracterise tlie vicinity of Cape 
l^vans. 
1 note that we immediately rushed the cotik, and 
that the menu consisted of soup, rissoles and fruit tart, 
of which 1 had three extra helps and still felt hungry! 
Oebenham's leg had not imj^roved much, but we 
decided to start with him on Tuesday (14th) and Nelson 
(and Anton) again volunteered to lielp us along, and 
if necessar)' they could fetch Debenhani back. 
It bli/.7.ed till ^ I'.M. on Tuesday. We could then 
just sec the \\'estern Mcnintains and il seemed useless to 
wait hmger. TluM-e \Nas a great barrier cvf stranded 
bergs oil the Cape, and in the lee of these several miles of 
clear ice— 'S\vepi b\- the bli//,ards — appeared. The wind 
blew so stnmgb- behind us that Debcnham was able to 
ease his leg hy sitting ou the sledge. \\'e managed six 
miles beftu-e night. Next day Ave \Nere half-way across 
I lie Sound. On I1uirsda\' (i6th) it was very thick. 
Lar<;e ' tlutl-balls ' of sntnv were falling, but tliere was 
little wind. 1 felt justified iu pushing olT and trying to 
steer h\ the compass, for \ve could only see about 200 
