i86 
SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [February 
must be dropped. Mcares, I think, rather imagined him- 
self racing to the Pole and back on a dog sledge. This 
journey has opened his eyes a good deal. 
We reached Safety Camp (dist. 14 miles) at 4.30 a.m. ; 
found E. Evans and his party in excellent health, but, alas ! 
with only one pony. As far as I can gather Forde's pony 
only got 4 miles back from the Bluff Camp ; then a blizzard 
came on, and in spite of the most tender care from Fordo 
the pony sank under it. Evans says that Forde spent 
hours with the animal trying to keep it going, feeding it, 
walking it about ; at last he returned to the tent to say 
that the poor creature had fallen ; they all tried to get it 
on its feet again but their efforts were useless. It couldn't 
stand, and soon after it died. 
Then the party marched some 10 miles, but the blizzard 
had had a bad effect on Blossom — it seemed to have 
shrivelled him up, and now he was terribly emaciated. 
After this march he could scarcely move. Evans describes 
his efforts as pathetic ; he got on 100 yards, then stopped 
with legs outstretched and nose to the ground. They 
rested him, fed him well, covered him with rugs ; but 
again all efforts were unavailing. The last stages came 
with painful detail. So Blossom is also left on the 
Southern Road. 
The last pony, James Pigg, as he is called, has thriven 
amazingly — of course great care has been taken with 
him and he is now getting full feed and very light work, 
so he ought to do well. The loss is severe ; but they were 
the two oldest ponies of our team and the two which 
Oates thought of least use. 
