9+ 
SCOUT'S LAST EXPEDITION 
[January 
on a very different prospect from that of 48 or even 
24 hours ago. 
I have just come back from the shore. 
The site for the hut is levelled and the erecting party 
is living on shore in our large green tent with a supply 
of food for eight days. Nearly all the timber, &c, of the 
hut is on shore, the remainder half-way there. The 
ponies are picketed in a line on a convenient snow slope 
so that they cannot cat sand. Oates and Anton are 
sleeping ashore to watch over them. The dogs are tied 
to a long length of chain stretched on the sand ; they are 
coiled up after a long day, looking fitter already. Meares 
and Demetri are sleeping in the green tent to look after 
them. A supply of food for ponies and dogs as well as 
for the men has been landed. Two motor sledges in good 
working order are safely on the beach. 
A fine record for our first day's work. All hands 
start again at 6 a.m. to-morrow. 
It's splendid to see at last the effect of all the months 
of preparation and organisation. There is much snoring 
about me as I write (2 p.m.) from men tired after a hard 
day's work and preparing for such another to-morrow. 
I also must sleep, for I have had none for 48 hours — but it 
should be to dream happily. 
Thursday^ January 5. — All hands were up at 5 this 
morning and at work at 6. Words cannot express the 
splendid way in which everyone works and gradually 
the work gets organised. I was a little late on the scene 
this morning, and thereby witnessed a most extraordinary 
