Sunday, January 29.—­Camp 2.  This morning after breakfast I read prayers.  Excellent day.  The seven good ponies have made two journeys to the Barrier, covering 18 geographical miles, half with good loads—­none of them were at all done.  Oates’ pony, a spirited, nervous creature, got away at start when his head was left for a moment and charged through the camp at a gallop; finally his sledge cannoned into another, the swingle tree broke, and he galloped away, kicking furiously at the dangling trace.  Oates fetched him when he had quieted down, and we found that nothing had been hurt or broken but the swingle tree.

Gran tried going on ski with his pony.  All went well while he was alongside, but when he came up from the back the swish of the ski frightened the beast, who fled faster than his pursuer—­that is, the pony and load were going better than the Norwegian on ski.

Gran is doing very well.  He has a lazy pony and a good deal of work to get him along, and does it very cheerfully.

The dogs are doing excellently—­getting into better condition every day.

They ran the first load 1 mile 1200 yards past the stores on the Barrier, to the spot chosen for ‘Safety Camp,’ the big home depot.

I don’t think that any part of the Barrier is likely to go, but it’s just as well to be prepared for everything, and our camp must deserve its distinctive title of ‘Safety.’

In the afternoon the dogs ran a second load to the same place—­covering over 24 geographical miles in the day—­an excellent day’s work._12_

Evans and I took a load out on foot over the pressure ridge.  The camp load alone remains to be taken to the Barrier.  Once we get to Safety Camp we can stay as long as we like before starting our journey.  It is only when we start that we must travel fast.

Most of the day it has been overcast, but to-night it has cleared again.  There is very little wind.  The temperatures of late have been ranging from 9 deg. at night to 24 deg. in the day.  Very easy circumstances for sledging.

Monday, January 30.—­Camp 3.  Safety Camp.  Bearings:  Lat. 77.55; Cape Armitage N. 64 W.; Camel’s Hump of Blue Glacier left, extreme; Castle Rock N. 40 W. Called the camp at 7.30.  Finally left with ponies at 11.30.  There was a good deal to do, which partly accounts for delays, but we shall have to ‘buck up’ with our camp arrangement.  Atkinson had his foot lanced and should be well in a couple of days.

I led the lame pony; his leg is not swelled, but I fear he’s developed a permanent defect—­there are signs of ring bone and the hoof is split.