Food is low and weather uncertain, so that many hours of the day were anxious; but this evening, though we are not as far advanced as I expected, the outlook is much more promising.  Evans is the chief anxiety now; his cuts and wounds suppurate, his nose looks very bad, and altogether he shows considerable signs of being played out.  Things may mend for him on the glacier, and his wounds get some respite under warmer conditions.  I am indeed glad to think we shall so soon have done with plateau conditions.  It took us 27 days to reach the Pole and 21 days back—­in all 48 days—­nearly 7 weeks in low temperature with almost incessant wind.

End of the Summit Journey

Wednesday, February 7.—­Mount Darwin [or Upper Glacier] Depot, R. 21.  Height 7100.  Lunch Temp. -9 deg.; Supper Temp, [a blank here].  A wretched day with satisfactory ending.  First panic, certainty that biscuit-box was short.  Great doubt as to how this has come about, as we certainly haven’t over-issued allowances.  Bowers is dreadfully disturbed about it.  The shortage is a full day’s allowance.  We started our march at 8.30, and travelled down slopes and over terraces covered with hard sastrugi—­very tiresome work—­and the land didn’t seem to come any nearer.  At lunch the wind increased, and what with hot tea and good food, we started the afternoon in a better frame of mind, and it soon became obvious we were nearing our mark.  Soon after 6.30 we saw our depot easily and camped next it at 7.30.

Found note from Evans to say the second return party passed through safely at 2.30 on January 14—­half a day longer between depots than we have been.  The temperature is higher, but there is a cold wind to-night.

Well, we have come through our 7 weeks’ ice camp journey and most of us are fit, but I think another week might have had a very bad effect on Evans, who is going steadily downhill.

It is satisfactory to recall that these facts give absolute proof of both expeditions having reached the Pole and placed the question of priority beyond discussion.

Thursday, February 8.—­R. 22.  Height 6260.  Start Temp. -11 deg.; Lunch Temp. -5 deg.; Supper, zero. 9.2 miles.  Started from the depot rather late owing to weighing biscuit, &c., and rearranging matters.  Had a beastly morning.  Wind very strong and cold.  Steered in for Mt.  Darwin to visit rock.  Sent Bowers on, on ski, as Wilson can’t wear his at present.  He obtained several specimens, all of much the same type, a close-grained granite rock which weathers red.  Hence the pink limestone.  After he rejoined we skidded downhill pretty fast, leaders on ski, Oates and Wilson on foot alongside sledge—­Evans detached.  We lunched at 2 well down towards Mt.  Buckley, the wind half a gale and everybody very cold and cheerless.  However, better things were to follow.  We decided to steer for the moraine under Mt.  Buckley and, pulling with crampons, we crossed