THE STRAND MAGAZINE. 
THE POLAR PARTY 
TWO DAYS, IT WILL BE REMEMBERED, WERE SPENT AT THE POLE, AND 
From a Photograph 
in the snow, and “ commandeered it as a yard 
for our sail. A note attached talked of the 
tent, as being two miles from the Pole.” Nor 
does the Journal begrudge a handsome 
acknowledgment : “ There is no doubt that 
our predecessors have made thoroughly sure 
of their mark and fully carried out their 
programme.” 
Finally “ we carried the Union Jack about 
three-quarters of a mile north with us and 
left it on a piece of stick as near ” to the true 
position of the Pole “ as we could fix it.” 
Starting Home. 
The homeward march began on January 
igth. It was “ heavy dragging ” from the 
first. “ in spite of the light load and a full sail.” 
During the last ten outward marches they had 
gradually descended one thousand feet to the 
Pole, so that the first part of the return was 
“ collar-work,” besides being over a bad sur- 
face, The “ old tracks were drifted up. deep 
in places, and toothed saslrugi had already 
formed over them. Marching with the wind 
was warmer and pleasanter ” than against it, 
but the cold was perhaps more felt at the halts. 
However, “ the cairns were easily picked up, 
the Southern depot reached on the 20th,” the 
prospect of getting over the ticklish stage to 
the “ Three Degree depot ” fairly promising. 
But “ it was blowing quite hard and drifting 
when the afternoon march was started. At 
first with full sail ” the sledge travelled “ at a 
great rate ” ; then they “ got on an extra- 
ordinary surface, the drifting snow lying in 
heaps. It clung to the ski, which could only 
be pushed forward with an effort, and the 
pulling was really awful But they “ went 
steadily on,” Scott looking forward to the 
time “ when Bowers should get his ski again ” 
from their cache : “I’m afraid he must find 
these long marches very trying with his short 
legs, but he is an undefeated little sportsman.” 
“ A Foretaste of Calamity ! 99 
But heavy pulling “ up the one hundred 
miles,” where it had been “ difficult to drag 
downhill,” was the least part of their toil. 
The elements began thus early to conspire 
against them. The 21st brought a half-day’s 
blizzard, the 23rd, 24th, and 25 tli others, and 
in their train brought a foretaste of calamity. 
Everything lessened speed, and every delay 
cut down the margin of safety allowed for 
