nitiated and founded
Antarctic sledge travelling, it was he who had blazed the trail, as it
were, and we were very very sorry for him, for such news, such a menace,
could hardly be expected to give him a happy winter.

Scott did the best thing under the circumstances: he set us all to work
on the 23rd February to get out three weeks' men provisions for eight men
from the stores at Safety Camp, and these collected and packed, he,
Cherry-Garrard, and Crean took a 10-ft. sledge, and Forde, Atkinson, and
myself a 12-ft. one, while Keohane and James Pigg pulled another big
sledge containing oats and paraffin, and we all set out in a bunch for
Corner Camp, thirty odd miles away. All this depot work meant an easy
start next season, since the transport of great loads over sea ice and
the deep, soft snow, which is usually encountered when first getting on
to the Barrier hereabouts, would strain the ponies' legs and break the
hearts of the dogs. Scott thought all this out and certainly overcame
preliminary difficulties by getting so much pony food, provision, and
paraffin out to One Ton Camp and Corner Camp. He felt the benefit next
springtime. This second little run out is not worth describing; we
sighted Bowers's party coming back with the five ponies whilst we were
camped one night, and we noted that they were travelling very quickly,
which proved all was well with these animals.

On arrival at Corner Camp Scott left us in order to get back and see the
five ponies safely conducted to Hut Point. He instructed me to make easy
marches with our friend James Pigg as there was no further work for him
this season. Cherry-Garrard and Crean accompanied Scott, and the three
pushed on at their utmost for blizzard weather had come again and the
snow fall was considerable.

We must now follow Captain Scott's and Bowers's party, who, in
conjunction, engaged on the problem of getting five ponies and two dog
teams to Hut Point. There did not seem to be anything in doing this, but
if ever a man's footsteps were dogged by misfortune, they surely were our
leader's.

Scott sent Cherry-Garrard and Crean with Bowers and four ponies across
the sea ice from the Barrier edge to reach Hut Point on March 1. He
himself had remained with Oates and Gran to tend the pony Weary Willie, a
gutless creature compared to the others, which was showing signs of
failing. Weary Willie died for no apparent reason, unless his loss of
condition was due to the blizza