i9i i] THE END OF WEARY WILLY 
191 
at 6 a.m. and marched into Safety Camp. Found every- 
one very cold and depressed. Wilson and Meares had had 
continuous bad weather since we left, Bowers and Oates 
since their arrival. The blizzard had raged for two days. 
The animals looked in a sorry condition but all were alive. 
The wind blew keen and cold from the east. There 
could be no advantage in waiting here, and soon all 
arrangements were made for a general shift to Hut Point. 
Packing took a long time. The snowfall had been 
prodigious, and parts of the sledges were 3 or 4 feet under 
drift. About 4 o'clock the two dog teams got safely 
away. Then the pony party prepared to go. As the 
clothes were stripped from the ponies the ravages of the 
blizzard became evident. The animals without exception 
were terribly emaciated, and Weary Willy was in a 
pitiable condition. 
The plan was for the ponies to follow the dog tracks, 
our small party to start last and get in front of the ponies 
on the sea ice. I was very anxious about the sea ice 
passage owing to the spread of the water holes. 
The ponies started, but Weary Willy, tethered last 
without a load, immediately fell down. We tried to get 
him up and he made efforts, but was too exhausted. 
Then we rapidly reorganised. Cherry-Garrard and 
Crean went on whilst Oates and Gran stayed with me. 
We made desperate efforts to save the poor creature, got 
him once more on his legs and gave him a hot oat mash. 
Then after a wait of an hour Oates led him off, and we 
packed the sledge and followed on ski ; 500 yards away 
from the camp the poor creature fell again and I felt 
