200 
SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION 
[March 
busy about the hut and overcoming difficulties fast. The 
stove threatened to exhaust our store of firewood. We 
have redesigned it so that it takes only a few chips of wood 
to light it and then continues to give great heat with 
blubber alone. To-day there are to be further improve- 
ments to regulate the draught and increase the cooking 
range. We have further housed-in the living quarters 
with our old Discovery winter awning, and begin already 
to retain the heat which is generated inside. We are 
beginning to eat blubber and find biscuits fried in it to 
be delicious. 
We really have everything necessary for our comfort 
and only need a little more experience to make the best 
of our resources. The weather has been wonderfully, 
perhaps ominously, fine during the last few days. The 
sea has frozen over and broken up several times already. 
The warm sun has given a grand opportunity to dry 
all gear. 
Yesterday morning Bowers went with a party to pick 
up the stores rescued from the floe last week. E. Evans 
volunteered to join the party with Meares, Keohane, 
Atkinson, and Gran. They started from the hut about 
io a.m ; we helped them up the hill, and at 7.30 I saw 
them reach the camp containing the gear, some 12 miles 
away. I don't expect them in till to-morrow night. 
It is splendid to see the way in which everyone is 
learning the ropes, and the resource which is being shown. 
Wilson as usual leads in the making of useful suggestions 
and in generally providing for our wants. He is a tower 
of strength in checking the ill-usage of clothes — what 
