I9I2 ] THE DEATH OF OATES 59 1 
we woke to a strong northerly wind with temp. -37°. 
Couldn't face it, so remained in camp (R. 54) till 2, then did 
miles. Wanted to march later, but party feeling the 
cold badly as the breeze (N.) never took off entirely, and 
as the sun sank the temp. fell. Long time getting supper 
in dark. (R. 55.) 
This morning started with southerly breeze, set sail 
and passed another cairn at good speed ; half-way, 
however, the wind shifted to W. by S. or W.S.W., blew 
through our wind clothes and into our mits. Poor Wilson 
horribly cold, could not get off ski for some time. Bowers 
and I practically made camp, and when we got into the 
tent at last we were all deadly cold. Then temp, now 
midday down -43° and the wind strong. We must 
go on, but now the making of every camp must be more 
difficult and dangerous. It must be near the end, but a 
pretty merciful end. Poor Oates got it again in the foot. 
I shudder to think what it will be like to-morrow. It 
is only with greatest pains rest of us keep off frostbites. 
No idea there could be temperatures like this at this time 
of year with such winds. Truly awful outside the tent. 
Must fight it out to the last biscuit, but can't reduce 
rations. 
Friday, March 16 or Saturday 17. — Lost track of 
dates, but think the last correct. Tragedy all along the 
line. At lunch, the day before yesterday, poor Titus 
Oates said he couldn't go on ; he proposed we should 
leave him in his sleeping-bag. That we could not do, 
and induced him to come on, on the afternoon march. 
In spite of its awful nature for him he struggled on 
