18th February 1912.

I started to move Mr. Evans this morning, but he completely collapsed and fainted away.  Crean was very upset and almost cried, but I told him it was no good to create a scene but put up a bold front and try to assist.  I really think he thought Mr. Evans had gone, but we managed to pull him through.  We used the last drop of brandy.  After awhile we got him on the sledge and proceeded as usual, but finding the surface very bad and we were unable to make less than a mile an hour, we stopped and decided to camp.  We told Mr. Evans of our plans, which were:  Crean should proceed, it being a splendid day, on foot to Hut Point to obtain relief if possible.  This we had agreed to between ourselves.  I offered to do the Journey and Crean remain behind, but Tom said he would much rather I stayed with the invalid and look after him, so I thought it best I should remain, and these plans were agreed to by all of us, so after we had camped the next thing was the food problem.  We had about a day’s provisions with extra biscuit taken from the motor, and a little extra oil taken from the same place, so we gave Crean what he thought he could manage to accomplish the Journey of 30 miles geographical on, which was a little chocolate and biscuits.  We put him up a little drink, but he would not carry it.  What a pity we did not have some ski, but we dumped them to save weight.  So Crean sailed away in splendid weather for a try to bring relief.  I was in a bit of a sweat all day and remained up to watch the weather till long after midnight.  I was afraid of the weather, but it kept clear and I thought he might have reached or got within easy distance of Hut Point; but there was the possibility of his dropping down a crevasse, but that we had to leave to chance, but none the more it was anxious moments as if it comes on to drift the weather is very treacherous in these parts.  After Crean left I left Mr. Evans and proceeded to Corner Camp which was about a mile away, to see if there was any provisions left there that would be of use to us.  I found a little butter, a little cheese, and a little treacle that had been brought there for the ponies.  I also went back to the motor and got a little more oil while the weather was fine.  I also got a large piece of burbery and tied on a long bamboo and stuck up a big flag on our sledge so that anyone could not pass our way without seeing us or our flag.  I found a note left at Corner Camp by Mr. Day saying there was a lot of very bad crevasses between there and the sea ice, especially off White Island.  This put me in a bit of a fix, as I, of course, at once thought of Crean.  He being on foot was more likely to go down than he would had he been on ski.  I did not tell Mr. Evans anything about the crevasses, as I certainly thought it would be best kept from him.  I just told him the note was there and all was well.

    19th February 1912.