Each of these three parties was self-contained with tent, cooker and weekly bag, and the times of starting were so planned that the three parties arrived at the end of the march about the same time.

There was a strong head wind and low drift as we rounded Cape Armitage on our way to the Barrier and the future.  Probably there were few of us who did not wonder when we should see the old familiar place again.

Scott’s party camped at Safety Camp as the Baltic fleet were getting under weigh again.  Soon afterwards Ponting appeared with a dog sledge and a cinematograph,—­how anomalous it seemed—­which “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."[183]

Immediately afterwards Scott’s party packed up.  “Good-bye and good luck,” from Ponting, a wave of the hand not holding in a frisky pony and we had left the last link with the hut.  “The future is in the lap of the gods; I can think of nothing left undone to deserve success."[184]

The general scheme was to average 10 miles (11.5 statute) a day from Hut Point to One Ton Depot with the ponies lightly laden.  From One Ton to the Gateway a daily average of 13 miles (15 statute) was necessary to carry twenty-four weekly units of food for four men each to the bottom of the glacier.  This was the Barrier Stage of the journey, a distance of 369 miles (425 statute) as actually run on our sledge-meter.  The twenty-four weekly units of food were to carry the Polar Party and two supporting parties forward to their farthest point, and back again to the bottom of the Beardmore, where three more units were to be left in a depot.[185]

All went well this first day on the Barrier, and encouraging messages left on empty petrol drums told us that the motors were going well when they passed.  But the next day we passed five petrol drums which had been dumped.  This meant that there was trouble, and some 14 miles from Hut Point we learned that the big end of the No. 2 cylinder of Day’s motor had broken, and half a mile beyond we found the motor itself, drifted up with snow, and looking a mournful wreck.  The next day’s march (Sunday, November 5, A.M.) brought us to Corner Camp.  There were a few legs down crevasses during the day but nothing to worry about.

From here we could see to the South an ominous mark in the snow which we hoped might not prove to be the second motor.  It was:  “the big end of No. 1 cylinder had cracked, the machine otherwise in good order.  Evidently the engines are not fitted to working in this climate, a fact that should be certainly capable of correction.  One thing is proved; the system of propulsion is altogether satisfactory."[186] And again:  “It is a disappointment.  I had hoped better of the machines once they got away on the Barrier Surface."[187]