Snatcher soon led the party and covered the distance in four hours.  Evans said he could see no difference at the end from the start—­the little animal simply romped in.  Bones and Christopher arrived almost equally fresh, in fact the latter had been bucking and kicking the whole way.  For the present there is no end to his devilment, and the great consideration is how to safeguard Oates.  Some quiet ponies should always be near him, a difficult matter to arrange with such varying rates of walking.  A little later I came up to a batch, Bowers, Wilson, Cherry, and Wright, and was happy to see Chinaman going very strong.  He is not fast, but very steady, and I think should go a long way.

Victor and Michael forged ahead again, and the remaining three of us came in after taking a little under five hours to cover the distance.

We were none too soon, as the weather had been steadily getting worse, and soon after our arrival it was blowing a gale.

Thursday, November 2.—­Hut Point.  The march teaches a good deal as to the paces of the ponies.  It reminded me of a regatta or a somewhat disorganised fleet with ships of very unequal speed.  The plan of further advance has now been evolved.  We shall start in three parties—­the very slow ponies, the medium paced, and the fliers.  Snatcher starting last will probably overtake the leading unit.  All this requires a good deal of arranging.  We have decided to begin night marching, and shall get away after supper, I hope.  The weather is hourly improving, but at this season that does not count for much.  At present our ponies are very comfortably stabled.  Michael, Chinaman and James Pigg are actually in the hut.  Chinaman kept us alive last night by stamping on the floor.  Meares and Demetri are here with the dog team, and Ponting with a great photographic outfit.  I fear he won’t get much chance to get results.

Friday, November 3.—­Camp 1.  A keen wind with some drift at Hut Point, but we sailed away in detachments.  Atkinson’s party, Jehu, Chinaman and Jimmy Pigg led off at eight.  Just before ten Wilson, Cherry-Garrard and I left.  Our ponies marched steadily and well together over the sea ice.  The wind dropped a good deal, but the temperature with it, so that the little remaining was very cutting.  We found Atkinson at Safety Camp.  He had lunched and was just ready to march out again; he reports Chinaman and Jehu tired.  Ponting arrived soon after we had camped with Demetri and a small dog team.  The cinematograph was up in time to catch the flying rearguard which came along in fine form, Snatcher leading and being stopped every now and again—­a wonderful little beast.  Christopher had given the usual trouble when harnessed, but was evidently subdued by the Barrier Surface.  However, it was not thought advisable to halt him, and so the party fled through in the wake of the advance guard.