We really have everything necessary for our comfort and only need a little more experience to make the best of our resources.  The weather has been wonderfully, perhaps ominously, fine during the last few days.  The sea has frozen over and broken up several times already.  The warm sun has given a grand opportunity to dry all gear.

Yesterday morning Bowers went with a party to pick up the stores rescued from the floe last week.  Evans volunteered to join the party with Meares, Keohane, Atkinson, and Gran.  They started from the hut about 10 A.M.; we helped them up the hill, and at 7.30 I saw them reach the camp containing the gear, some 12 miles away.  I don’t expect them in till to-morrow night.

It is splendid to see the way in which everyone is learning the ropes, and the resource which is being shown.  Wilson as usual leads in the making of useful suggestions and in generally providing for our wants.  He is a tower of strength in checking the ill-usage of clothes—­what I have come to regard as the greatest danger with Englishmen.

Friday, March 10, A.M.—­Went yesterday to Castle Rock with Wilson to see what chance there might be of getting to Cape Evans. [17] The day was bright and it was quite warm walking in the sun.  There is no doubt the route to Cape Evans lies over the worst corner of Erebus.  From this distance the whole mountain side looks a mass of crevasses, but a route might be found at a level of 3000 or 4000 ft.

The hut is getting warmer and more comfortable.  We have very excellent nights; it is cold only in the early morning.  The outside temperatures range from 8 deg. or so in the day to 2 deg. at night.  To-day there is a strong S.E. wind with drift.  We are going to fetch more blubber for the stove.

Saturday, March 11, A.M.—­Went yesterday morning to Pram Point to fetch in blubber—­wind very strong to Gap but very little on Pram Point side.

In the evening went half-way to Castle Rock; strong bitter cold wind on summit.  Could not see the sledge party, but after supper they arrived, having had very hard pulling.  They had had no wind at all till they approached the hut.  Their temperatures had fallen to -10 deg. and -15 deg., but with bright clear sunshine in the daytime.  They had thoroughly enjoyed their trip and the pulling on ski.

Life in the hut is much improved, but if things go too fast there will be all too little to think about and give occupation in the hut.

It is astonishing how the miscellaneous assortment of articles remaining in and about the hut have been put to useful purpose.

This deserves description._15_