188 
SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION 
[February 
and do our best for the honour of the country without 
fear or panic. 
There is no doubt that Amundsen's plan is a very 
serious menace to ours. He has a shorter distance to the 
Pole by 60 miles — I never thought he could have got so 
many dogs safely to the ice. His plan for running them 
seems excellent. But above and beyond all he can start 
his journey early in the season — an impossible condition 
with ponies. 
The ice is still in at the Glacier Tongue : a very late 
date — it looks as though it will not break right back this 
season, but off Cape Armitage it is so thin that I doubt 
if the ponies could safely be walked round. 
Thursday y February 23. — Spent the day preparing 
sledges, &c, for party to meet Bowers at Corner Camp. 
It was blowing and drifting and generally uncomfortable. 
Wilson and Mearcs killed three seals for the dogs. 
Friday, February 24. — Roused out at 6. Started 
marching at 9. Self, Crean, and Cherry-Garrard one sledge 
and tent; E. Evans, Atkinson, Fordc, second sledge and 
tent ; Keohane leading his pony. We pulled on ski in 
the forenoon ; the second sledge couldn't keep up, so we 
changed about for half the march. In the afternoon wc 
pulled on foot. On the whole I thought the labour greater 
on foot, so did Crean, showing the advantage of 
experience. 
There is no doubt that very long days' work could be 
done by men in hard condition on ski. 
The hanging back of the second sledge was mainly a 
question of condition, but to some extent due to the 
