Atkinson, Dimitri and I left for Cape Evans with the two dog-teams on May 1.  Directly we started it was evident that the surface was very bad:  even the ice near Hut Point, which had been frozen for a long time, was hard pulling for the dogs, and when after less than a mile we got on to ice which had frozen quite lately the sledges were running on snow which in turn lay on salt sleet.  It seemed a long time before we got abreast of Castle Rock, following close along the land for the weather was very thick:  when we started we could just see the outline of Inaccessible Island, but by now the horizon was lost in the dusk and haze.  We decided to push on to Turtleback Island and go over Glacier Tongue in order to get on to the older ice as soon as possible.  The dogs began to get very done:  Manuki Noogis, who had been harnessed in as leader (for Rabchick had deserted in the night), gave in completely, lay down and refused to be persuaded to go on:  we had to cast him off and hope that he would follow.  After a time Turtleback Island was visible in the gloom, but it was all we could do, pushing and pulling the sledges to help the dogs, to get them so far.  We were now on the older ice:  our way was easier and we reached Cape Evans without further incident.  We found Rabchick on arrival, but no Manuki Noogis, who never reappeared.

As we neared the Cape Atkinson turned to me:  “Would you go for Campbell or the Polar Party next year?” he said.  “Campbell,” I answered:  just then it seemed to me unthinkable that we should leave live men to search for those who were dead.

FOOTNOTES: 

   [259] See Introduction, pp. l, lii-lix.

[260] See pp. 353, 383.

[261] See pp. 382, 383.

[262] My own diary.

[263] See p. 115.

[264] British Antarctic Expedition, 1910-1913, “Meteorology,” by
G. C. Simpson, vol. i. pp. 28-30.

[265] See pp. 550-556.

[266] My own diary.

[267] My own diary.

[268] My own diary.

[269] As a matter of fact this was not the case.

   [270] My own diary.

   [271] My own diary.

   [272] Atkinson in Scott’s Last Expedition, vol. ii. p. 309.

   [273] My own diary.

   [274] My own diary.

   [275] Ibid.

   [276] Atkinson in Scott’s Last Expedition, vol. ii. p. 31.

   [277] Atkinson in Scott’s Last Expedition, vol. ii. p. 314.

   [278] Atkinson’s diary.

   [279] My own diary.

CHAPTER XIV

THE LAST WINTER

Ordinary people snuggle up to God as a lost leveret in a freezing
wilderness might snuggle up to a Siberian tiger....—­H.  G. WELLS.

(I) 5 men dead. (III) 2 men landed.