552 
SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION 
[January 
to-night. This is the second full gale since we left the 
Pole. I don't like the look of it. Is the weather break- 
ing up ? If so, God help us, with the tremendous summit 
journey and scant food. Wilson and Bowers are my 
standby. I don't like the easy way in which Oatcs and 
Evans get frostbitten. 
Thursday i Ja?tuary 25. — Temp. Lunch Temp, 
night - 16 0 . Thank God we found our Half Degree Depot. 
After lying in our bags yesterday afternoon and all night, 
we debated breakfast ; decided to have it later and go 
without lunch. At the time the gale seemed as bad as 
ever, but during breakfast the sun showed and there was 
light enough to see the old track. It was a long and 
terribly cold job digging out our sledge and breaking camp, 
but we got through and on the march without sail, all 
pulling. This was about n, and at about 2.30, to our joy, 
we saw the red depot flag. We had lunch and left with 
9J days' provisions, still following the track — marched 
till 8 and covered over 5 miles, over 12 in the day. Only 
89 miles (gcogr.) to the next depot, but it's time we cleared 
off this plateau. We arc not without ailments : Oatcs suffers 
from a very cold foot ; Evans' fingers and nose are in a 
bad state, and to-night Wilson is suffering tortures from 
his eyes. Bowers and I are the only members of the 
party without troubles just at present. The weather 
still looks unsettled, and I fear a succession of blizzards 
at this time of year ; the wind is strong from the south, 
and this afternoon has been very helpful with the full 
sail. Needless to say I shall sleep much better with our 
provision bag full again. The only real anxiety now is 
