Wilson was there and his diary is that of an artist, watching the clouds and mountains, of a scientist observing ice and rock and snow, of a doctor, and above all of a man with good judgment.  You will understand that the thing which really interested him in this journey was the acquisition of knowledge.  It is a restrained, and for the most part a simple, record of facts.  There is seldom any comment, and when there is you feel that, for this very reason, it carries more weight.  Just about this time:  “December 24.  Very promising, thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon march”:  “Christmas Day, and a real good and happy one with a very long march”:  “January 1, 1912.  We had only 6 hours’ sleep last night by a mistake, but I had mine solid in one piece, actually waking in exactly the same position as I fell asleep in 6 hours before—­never moved”:  “January 2.  We were surprised to-day by seeing a Skua gull flying over us—­evidently hungry but not weak.  Its droppings, however, were clear mucus, nothing in them at all.  It appeared in the afternoon and disappeared again about 1/2 hour after.”  And then on January 3:  “Last night Scott told us what the plans were for the South Pole.  Scott, Oates, Bowers, Petty Officer Evans and I are to go to the Pole.  Teddie Evans is to return from here to-morrow with Crean and Lashly.  Scott finished his week’s cooking to-night and I begin mine to-morrow.”  Just that.

The next day Bowers wrote:  “I had my farewell breakfast in the tent with Teddy Evans, Crean and Lashly.  After so little sleep the previous night I rather dreaded the march.  We gave our various notes, messages and letters to the returning party and started off.  They accompanied us for about a mile before returning, to see that all was going well.  Our party were on ski with the exception of myself:  I first made fast to the central span, but afterwards connected up to the toggle of the sledge, pulling in the centre between the inner ends of Captain Scott’s and Dr. Wilson’s traces.  This was found to be the best place, as I had to go my own step.

“Teddy and party gave us three cheers, and Crean was half in tears.  They have a feather-weight sledge to go back with of course, and ought to run down their distance easily.[295] We found we could manage our load easily, and did 6.3 miles before lunch, completing 12.5 by 7.15 P.M.  Our marching hours are nine per day.  It is a long slog with a well-loaded sledge, and more tiring for me than the others, as I have no ski.  However, as long as I can do my share all day and keep fit it does not matter much one way or the other.