Everything had to be sledged nearly a mile and a half across the sea-ice, but at midnight, after seventeen hours’ continuous work, the position was most satisfactory.  The large amount of timber which went to make the hut was mostly landed.  The ponies and dogs were sleeping in the sun on shore.  A large green tent housed the hut builders, and the site for the hut was levelled.

“Such weather in such a place comes nearer to satisfying my ideal of perfection than any condition I have ever experienced.  The warm glow of the sun with the keen invigorating cold of the air forms a combination which is inexpressibly health-giving and satisfying to me, whilst the golden light on this wonderful scene of mountain and ice satisfies every claim of scenic magnificence.  No words of mine can convey the impressiveness of the wonderful panorama displayed to our eyes....  It’s splendid to see at last the effect of all the months of preparation and organisation.  There is much snoring about me as I write (2 A.M.) from men tired after a hard day’s work and preparing for such another to-morrow.  I also must sleep, for I have had none for 48 hours—­but it should be to dream happily."[94]

Getting to bed about midnight and turning out at 5 A.M. we kept it up day after day.  Petrol, paraffin, pony food, dog food, sledges and sledging gear, hut furniture, provisions of all kinds both for life at the hut and for sledging, coal, scientific instruments and gear, carbide, medical stores, clothing—­I do not know how many times we sledged over that sea-ice, but I do know that we were landed as regards all essentials in six days.  “Nothing like it has been done before; nothing so expeditious and complete."[95] ... and “Words cannot express the splendid way in which every one works."[96]

The two motors, the two dog-teams, man-hauling parties, and, as they were passed for work by Oates, the ponies; all took part in this transport.  As usual Bowers knew just where everything was, and where it was to go, and he was most ably seconded on the ship by Rennick and Bruce.  Both man-hauling parties and pony-leaders commonly did ten journeys a day, a distance of over thirty miles.  The ponies themselves did one to three or four journeys as they were considered fit.

Generally speaking the transport seemed satisfactory, but it soon became clear that sea-ice was very hard on the motor sledge runners.  “The motor sledges are working well, but not very well; the small difficulties will be got over, but I rather fear they will never draw the loads we expect of them.  Still they promise to be a help, and they are a lively and attractive feature of our present scene as they drone along over the floe.  At a little distance, without silencers, they sound exactly like threshing machines."[97]