358 
SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION 
[July 
been ; the same may be said of the dogs with one or two 
exceptions. 
The light comes on apace. To-day (Wednesday) it 
was very beautiful at noon : the air was very clear and the 
detail of the Western Mountains was revealed in infinitely 
delicate contrasts of light. 
Thursday, July zj, Friday, July 28. — Calmer days : 
the sky rosier : the light visibly advancing. We have never 
suffered from low spirits, so that the presence of day raises 
us above a normal cheerfulness to the realm of high spirits. 
The light, merry humour of our company has never 
been eclipsed, the good-natured, kindly chaff has never 
ceased since those early days of enthusiasm which inspired 
them — they have survived the winter days of stress and 
already renew themselves with the coming of spring. If 
pessimistic moments had foreseen the growth of rifts in 
the bond forged by these amenities, they stand prophetic- 
ally falsified ; there is no longer room for doubt that we 
shall come to our work with a unity of purpose and a 
disposition for mutual support which have never been 
equalled in these paths of activity. Such a spirit should 
tide us [over] all minor difficulties. It is a good omen. 
Saturday, July 29, Sunday, July 30. — Two quiet days, 
temperature low in the minus thirties — an occasional 
rush of wind lasting for but a few minutes. 
One of our best sledge dogs, ' Julick,' has disappeared. 
I'm afraid he's been set on by the others at some distant 
spot and we shall see nothing more but his stiffened 
carcass when the light returns. Meares thinks the others 
would not have attacked him and imagines he has fallen 
