I9I2] SETTING OUT TO MEET SCOTT 301 
firmly emphasized that the dog teams were meant merely 
to hasten the return of the Southern Party and by no 
means as a relief expedition. 
The next two days, February 25 and 26, were devoted 
to giving the dogs a much-needed rest and to making up 
provisions and dog food. Indeed, owing to bad weather, it 
would have been impossible to have made a start on these 
days. The following record of the journey of the two 
dog teams is taken entirely from Cherry-Garrard's diary : 
February 26. — Since it looked fair last night, at 
2 A.M. they decided to start. There was a strong wind and 
a fair amount of drift at the time. The dogs proceeded 
well to Safety Camp and then on to the biscuit depot, 
15 miles from Hut Point. There they were rested for a 
short while and finally started at 6 p.m., and reached 
Corner Camp at 10 p.m. The dogs were working splendidly 
and together, and completed the distance of 30 geographical 
miles for the day in thick weather and with a head wind. 
On February 27 they again had a head wind and low 
drift ; they made good 10 miles and then camped for 
tea ; proceeding afterwards over a very good surface but 
with bad light, they completed i8.\ miles for the day, seeing 
but one cairn, which they only made out when it was 
20 yards away. They camped in the nick of time, as a 
blizzard broke upon them and they had great difiiculty in 
getting the tent pitched. The dogs pulled well and were 
very fit and not done up. It may be noted in passing 
that the difficulties of camping and breaking camp 
are enormously increased in bad weather when there is a 
unit of only two men instead of four. 
