560 
SCOTT S LAST EXPEDITION [February 
lost tracks on hard slope. To-night we are near camp of 
December 26, but cannot see cairn. Have decided it is 
waste of time looking for tracks and cairn, and shall push 
on due north as fast as we can. 
The surface is greatly changed since we passed outward* 
in most places polished smooth, but with heaps of new 
toothed sastrugi which are disagreeable obstacles. Evans' 
fingers are going on as well as can be expected, but it will 
be long before he will be able to help properly with the 
work. Wilson's leg much better, and my shoulder also, 
though it gives bad twinges. The extra food is doing us 
all good, but we ought to have more sleep. Very few 
more days on the plateau I hope. 
Sunday , February 4. — R.18. 8620 feet. Temp.: 
Lunch -22 0 ; Supper -23 0 . Pulled on foot in the morn- 
ing over good hard surface and covered 97 miles. Just 
before lunch unexpectedly fell into crevasses, Evans and 
I together — a second fall for Evans, and I camped. After 
lunch saw disturbance ahead, and what I took for disturb- 
ance (land) to the right. We went on ski over hard shiny 
descending surface. Did very well, especially towards 
end of march, covering in all 18*1. We have come down 
some hundreds of feet. Half way in the march the land 
showed up splendidly, and I decided to make straight for 
Mt. Darwin, which we are rounding. Every sign points 
to getting away off this plateau. The temperature is 
20 0 lower than when we were here before ; the party is not 
improving in condition, especially Evans, who is becoming 
rather dull and incapable.* Thank the Lord we have good 
* The result of concussion in the morning's fall. 
