en
above our knees. Meanwhile Snatcher was saving the situation in
snow-shoes, and led the line of ponies. Snippets nearly fell back into a
big crevasse, into which his hind quarters fell: but they managed to
unharness him, and scramble him out.

I do not know how long we had been going when Scott decided to follow the
chasm. We found a big dip with hard ice underneath, and it was probably
here that we made the crossing: we could now see the ring of pressure
behind us. Almost it was decided to make the depot here, but the ponies
still plugged on in the most plucky way, though they had to be driven.
Scott settled to go as far as they could be induced to march, and they
did wonderfully. We had never thought that they would go a mile: but
painfully they marched for eleven hours without a long halt, and covered
a distance which we then estimated at seven miles. But our sledge-meters
were useless being clogged with the soft snow, and we afterwards came to
believe the distance was not so great: probably not more than five. When
we had reached a point some two miles from the top of the snow divide
which fills the Gateway we camped, thankful to rest, but more thankful
still that we need drive those weary ponies no more. Their rest was near.
It was a horrid business, and the place was known as Shambles Camp.

Oates came up to Scott as he stood in the shadow of Mount Hope. "Well! I
congratulate you, Titus," said Wilson. "And _I_ thank you, Titus," said
Scott.

And that was the end of the Barrier Stage.

FOOTNOTES:

[181] Taylor, with Scott, _The Silver Lining_, pp. 325-326.

[182] _Scott's Last Expedition_, vol. i. p. 448.

[183] _Scott's Last Expedition_, vol. i. p. 449.

[184] Ibid. p. 446.

[185] See pp. 350, 552-556.

[186] _Scott's Last Expedition_, vol. i. p. 453.

[187] Ibid. p. 452.

[188] _Scott's Last Expedition_, vol. i. p. 438-439.

[189] _Scott's Last Expedition_, vol. i. p. 450.

[190] Bowers.

[191] Bowers.

[192] My own diary.

[193] Bowers.

[194] _Scott's Last Expedition_, vol. i. p. 463.

[195] Ibid. p. 462.

[196] _Scott's Last Expedition_, vol. i. p. 461.

[197] Bowers.

[198] Bowers.

[199] _Scott's Last Expedition_, vol. i. p. 465.

[200] _Scott's Last Expedition_, vol. i. p. 465.

[201] _Scott's Last Expedition_, vol. i. p. 468.

[202] _Scott's Last Expedition_, vol. i. pp. 470, 471.

[203] Bowers.