“Now our only real chance of finding them, if we go out, is from here to ten miles south of Corner Camp.  After that we shall do all we can, but it would be no good, because there is no very definite route.  Therefore I would start out on March 27, when we would travel that part with most chance of meeting them there if they have any trouble.  I have put this to Atkinson and will willingly do what he decides.  I am feeling pretty done up, and have rested.  The prospect of what will be a hard journey, feeling as I do, is rather bad.  I don’t think there is really cause for alarm.”

“March 18 and 19. We are very anxious, though the Pole Party could not be in yet.  Also I am very done, and more so than I at first thought:  I am afraid it is a bit doubtful whether I can get out again yet, but to-day I feel better and have been for a short walk.  I am taking all the rest I can.”

“March 20. Last night a very strong blizzard blew, wind force 9 and big snowfall and drift.  This morning the doors and windows are all drifted up, and we could hardly get out:  a lot of snow had got inside the hut also:  I was feeling rotten, and thought that to go out and clear the window and door would do me good.  This I did, but came back in a big squall, passing Atkinson as I came in.  Then I felt myself going faint, and remember pushing the door to get in if possible.  I knew no more until I came to on the floor just inside the door, having broken some tendons in my right hand in falling."[268]

Two days afterwards the dogs sang at breakfast-time:  they often did this when a party was approaching, even when it was still far away, and they had done so when Crean came in on his walk from Corner Camp.  We were cheered by the noise.  But no party arrived, and the singing of the dogs was explained later by some seal appearing on the new ice in Arrival Bay.  Atkinson decided to go out on to the Barrier man-hauling with Keohane on the 26th.  It was obvious that I could not go with them:  he told me afterwards that when I came in with the dog-teams he was sure I could not go out again.

“March 25. The wind came away yesterday evening, first S.W. and then S.E. but not bad, though very thick.  It was a surprise to find we could see the Western Mountains this morning, and I believe it has been a good day on the Barrier, though it is still blowing with low drift this evening.  We are now on the days when I expect the Polar Party in:  pray God I may be right.  Atkinson and I look at one another, and he looks, and I feel, quite haggard with anxiety.  He says he does not think they have scurvy.  We both, I think, feel quite comfortable, in comparison, about Campbell:  he only wants to exercise care, and his great care was almost a byword on the ship.  They are fresh and they have plenty of seal.[269] He discussed with Pennell both the possibility of shipwreck and that of the ship being unable to get to him, and for this reason landed an extra month’s rations as a depot; also he contemplated the idea of living on seal.  He knows of the Butter Point Depot, and knows that a party has been sledging in that neighbourhood:  though he does not know of the depots they left at Cape Roberts and Cape Bernacchi, they are right out on the Points and Taylor says he could not miss them on his way down the coast."[270]