I9I2] THE SECOND WINTER AT CAPE EVANS 317 
ahead at the full length of the Alpine rope. When they 
arrived eventually at Cape Evans it was dark and blowing 
a blizzard. They were lost on the Cape for sonae time, but 
eventually found the hut and were in safety. 
On May i Cherry-Garrard, Demetri, Williamson, and I 
returned to Cape Evans with the two dog teams. There 
we started to settle in for the winter and gradually took up 
the winter routine. 
Everything was well at the hut at Cape Evans and 
work, scientific and otherwise, had been proceeding as 
usual. We early realised that for the sake of everyone 
concerned the routine followed in the previous year must be 
continued in this as far as possible. It was a necessity for 
us to keep up our work and interests and exercise, so as to 
avoid slackness and depression and to keep fit and useful 
through the dark months. The North Bay had only 
frozen to within half a mile of the hut and had been 
continually freezing and blowing out. 
The seven mules, which had been given by the Indian 
Government to Captain Scott to enable him to carry on 
further exploration in the second year, were in excellent 
condition. Lashly had received certain instructions from 
Captain Gates when Evans' party left them on the Plateau 
87° 37'. He had been in entire charge of the mules 
and continued so throughout the winter. Their condition 
throughout was splendid and spoke volumes for the care 
with which he looked after them. These mules were 
suggested to Captain Scott by Captain Gates, and they 
justified his hopes in every way. The mules had been 
exercised regularly whenever the weather permitted, and 
