36 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [December 
Nelson and Lillie were up all night with the current 
meter ; it is not quite satisfactory, but some result has 
been obtained. Hey will also get a series of temperatures 
and samples and use the vertical tow net. 
The current is satisfactory. Both days the fixes have 
been good — it is best that we should go north and 
west. I had a great fear that we should be drifted east 
and so away to regions of permanent pack. If we go 
on in this direction it can only be a question of time 
before we arc freed. 
We have all been away on ski on the large floe to 
which we anchored this morning. Gran is wonderfully 
good and gives instruction well. It was hot, and gar- 
ments came off one by one — the Soldier * and Atkinson 
were stripped to the waist eventually, and have been 
sliding round the floe for some time in that condition. 
Nearly everyone has been wearing goggles ; the glare is 
very bad. Pouting tried to get a colour picture, but 
unfortunately the ice colours are too delicate for this. 
To-night Campbell, E. Evans, and I went out over the 
floe, and each in turn towed the other two ; it was fairly 
easy work — that is, to pull 310 to 320 lb. One could 
pull it perhaps more easily on foot, yet it would be im- 
possible to pull such a load on a sledge. What a puzzle 
this pulling of loads is ! If one could think that this cap- 
tivity was soon to end there would be little reason to 
regret it ; it is giving practice with our deep-sea gear, 
and has made everyone keen to learn the proper use of ski. 
The swell has increased considerably, but it is impossible 
* Captain Oatcs' nickname. 
