35^ 
SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION 
[Jcly 
— Nelson and Evans had had great difficulty in rescuing 
their sounding sledge, which had been left near here 
before the gale. The course of events is not very clear, 
but it looks as though the gale pressed up the crack, 
raising broken pieces of the thin ice formed after recent 
opening movements. These raised pieces had become 
nuclei of heavy snow drifts, which in turn weighing down 
the floe had allowed water to flow in over the sledge level. 
It is surprising to find such a big disturbance from what 
appears to be a simple cause. This crack is now joined, 
and the contraction is taking on a new one which has 
opened much nearer to us and seems to run to C. Barne. 
We have noticed a very curious appearance of heavenly 
bodies when setting in a north-westerly direction. About 
the time of midwinter the moon observed in this position 
appeared in a much distorted shape of blood red colour. 
It might have been a red flare or distant bonfire, but could 
not have been guessed for the moon. Yesterday the planet 
Venus appeared under similar circumstances as a ship's 
side-light or Japanese lantern. In both cases there was 
a flickering in the light and a change of colour from 
deep orange yellow to blood red, but the latter was 
dominant. 
Thursday y July 20, Friday 21, Saturday 22. — There 
is very little to record — the horses are going on well, all 
are in good form, at least for the moment. They drink a 
good deal of water in the morning. 
Saturday, July 22, continued. — This and the better 
ventilation of the stable make for improvement we think 
— perhaps the increase of salt allowance is also beneficial. 
