Providing there is no serious accident, the engine troubles will gradually be got over; of that I feel pretty confident.  Every day will see improvement as it has done to date, every day the men will get greater confidence with larger experience of the machines and the conditions.  But it is not easy to foretell the extent of the result of older and earlier troubles with the rollers.  The new rollers turned up by Day are already splitting, and one of Lashly’s chains is in a bad way; it may be possible to make temporary repairs good enough to cope with the improved surface, but it seems probable that Lashly’s car will not get very far.

It is already evident that had the rollers been metal cased and the runners metal covered, they would now be as good as new.  I cannot think why we had not the sense to have this done.  As things are I am satisfied we have the right men to deal with the difficulties of the situation.

The motor programme is not of vital importance to our plan and it is possible the machines will do little to help us, but already they have vindicated themselves.  Even the seamen, who have remained very sceptical of them, have been profoundly impressed.  Evans said, ’Lord, sir, I reckon if them things can go on like that you wouldn’t want nothing else’—­but like everything else of a novel nature, it is the actual sight of them at work that is impressive, and nothing short of a hundred miles over the Barrier will carry conviction to outsiders.

Parting with the motors, we made haste back to Hut Point and had tea there.  My feet had got very sore with the unaccustomed soft foot-gear and crinkly surface, but we decided to get back to Cape Evans.  We came along in splendid weather, and after stopping for a cup of tea at Razor Back, reached the hut at 9 P.M., averaging 3 1/2 stat. miles an hour.  During the day we walked 26 1/2 stat. miles, not a bad day’s work considering condition, but I’m afraid my feet are going to suffer for it.

Saturday, October 28.—­My feet sore and one ‘tendon Achillis’ strained (synovitis); shall be right in a day or so, however.  Last night tremendous row in the stables.  Christopher and Chinaman discovered fighting.  Gran nearly got kicked.  These ponies are getting above themselves with their high feeding.  Oates says that Snippets is still lame and has one leg a little ‘heated’; not a pleasant item of news.  Debenham is progressing but not very fast; the Western Party will leave after us, of that there is no doubt now.  It is trying that they should be wasting the season in this way.  All things considered, I shall be glad to get away and put our fortune to the test.

Monday, October 30.—­We had another beautiful day yesterday, and one began to feel that the summer really had come; but to-day, after a fine morning, we have a return to blizzard conditions.  It is blowing a howling gale as I write.  Yesterday Wilson, Crean, P.O.  Evans, and I donned our sledging kit and camped by the bergs for the benefit of Ponting and his cinematograph; he got a series of films which should be about the most interesting of all his collection.  I imagine nothing will take so well as these scenes of camp life.