i6S 
SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [February 
The remaining five ponies, which have been improving in 
condition, will go on for a few days at least, and we must 
see how near we can come to the 8oth parallel. 
To-night we have been making all the necessary arrange- 
ments for this plan. Cherry-Garrard is to come into 
our tent. 
Monday , February 13. — No. 12 Camp. 9 miles 150 yds. 
The wind got up from the south with drift before we 
started yesterday — all appearance of a blizzard. But we 
got away at 12.30 and marched through drift for 7 miles. 
It was exceedingly cold at first. Just at starting the sky 
cleared in the wonderfully rapid fashion usual in these 
regions. We saw that our camp had the southern 
edge of the base rock of the Bluff in line with 
Mt. Discovery, and White Island well clear of the 
eastern slope of Mt. Erebus. A fairly easy alignment 
to pick up. 
At lunch time the sky lightened up and the drift 
temporarily ceased. I thought we were going to get in a 
good march, but on starting again the drift came thicker 
than ever and soon the course grew wild. We went on 
for 2 miles and then I decided to camp. So here we are 
with a full blizzard blowing. I told Wilson I should camp 
if it grew thick, and hope he and Meares have stopped 
where they were. They saw Evans start back from No. 1 1 
Camp before leaving. I trust they have got in something 
of a march before stopping. This continuous bad weather 
is exceedingly trying, but our own ponies are quite com- 
fortable this time, Pm glad to say. We have built them 
extensive snow walls behind which they seem to get quite 
