312 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [Apri 
On April 13, about 10.30 in the morning, with Wright, 
Gran, Keohane, Williamson, and Demetri I started back 
to Hut Point. The surface of the sea ice had then com- 
pletely changed and was covered with slush and ice- 
flowers ; a trying blizzard started, and after a very hard 
pull we had to run for shelter to the little Razorback 
Island. We camped there and had tea. Soon after, the 
blizzard abated somewhat and we got under way. We 
made very slow progress, and after a very hard day's pull 
could only reach the Glacier Tongue, seven miles from 
home. The next morning we awoke, made our way over 
the Tongue, and reaching the cliffs had some difficulty in 
getting up. The sledge was held at arm's length by four 
men while one clambered up and by the help of his knife 
eventually gained a sure footing and was able to help the 
others. Except for the steepness of the climb, the re- 
mainder of the journey to Hut Point was easy. There 
we found Cherry-Garrard greatly relieved at our return, 
as the ice had been blowing out of the Sound, but had 
luckily remained in in the two bays. We reached Hut 
Point on the 14th. 
The 15th and i6th were occupied in drying gear and 
making up provisions for four weeks. I decided to take 
C. S. Wright, who was a skilled navigator, Petty Officer 
Williamson, and Keohane. The season was well advanced 
and a great part of the travelling and camping had to be 
done in the dusk. 
On April 17 we started across the sea ice, and after 
5 miles we reached some old sea ice which had probably 
been there for two years or more. We then proceeded 
