592 
SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION 
[March 
and we made a few miles. At night he was worse and 
we knew the end had come. 
Should this be found I want these facts recorded. 
Oatcs' last thoughts were of his Mother, but immediately 
before he took pride in thinking that his regiment would 
be pleased with the bold way in which he met his death. 
We can testify to his bravery. He has borne intense 
suffering for weeks without complaint, and to the very 
last was able and willing to discuss outside subjects. 
He did not — would not — give up hope to the very end. 
He was a brave soul. This was the end. He slept 
through the night before last, hoping not to wake ; but 
he woke in the morning — yesterday. It was blowing a 
blizzard. He said, * I am just going outside and may be 
some tilde.' He went out into the blizzard and we have 
not seen him since. 
I take this opportunity of saying that we have stuck 
to our sick companions to the last. In case of Edgar 
Evans, when absolutely out of food and he lay insensible, 
thesafctvof the remainder seemed to demand his abandon- 
ment, but Providence mercifully removed him at this 
critical moment. He died a natural death, and wc did 
not leave him till two hours after his death. We knew 
that poor Oates was walking to his death, but though 
wc tried to dissuade him, we knew it was the act of a 
brave man and an English gentleman. We all hope to 
meet the end with a similar spirit, and assuredly the end 
is not far. 
I can only write at lunch and then only occasionally. 
The cold is intense, -40 0 at midday. My companions arc 
