What actually happened was this.  Stores were landed by those at the base station on the re-arrival of the “Terra Nova,” and Atkinson, who was the senior member of those not now returning in her to civilisation, took over the dogs according to Scott’s directions.  He proceeded to Hut Point with Dimitri and the two dog teams on 13th February, and was kept in camp by bad weather until 19th, when Crean reached the Hut and brought in the news of my breakdown and collapse at Corner Camp.  A blizzard precluded a start for the purpose of relieving me, but this expedition was undertaken immediately the weather abated.  It was only during a temporary clear that Lashly and I were rescued.

Considering my condition, Atkinson judged that if help could be obtained from Cape Evans, his duty was to stay with me and save my life if possible, and to depute Cherry-Garrard or Wright to take the dog-teams out to One Ton Camp with Dimitri.

Scott would have preferred Wright to remain at Cape Evans, because he had now relieved Simpson as physicist—­Simpson being recalled by the Indian Government.

So it was decided that Cherry-Garrard should take out the teams, which he did, with twenty-four days’ food for his own unit and two weeks’ surplus stores for the Southern party, with all kinds of special delicacies.

The real object of this trip was to hasten the Southern party’s return rather than to succour them.

Cherry-Garrard and Dimitri had a tough time of it.  They, however, reached One Ton Camp on March, and were held there by blizzard weather, which made travelling impossible.  Temperatures of 40 degrees below zero and lower were experienced, the dogs were suffering acutely, and Cherry-Garrard had to decide on the better course—­to remain at One Ton Camp, which Scott would surely make, if thus far north, with two competent navigators in his team, or to scout and risk missing the party, whilst using up the dogs’ remaining strength.  He very properly remained at One Ton Camp and made his depot on 10th March, and after satisfying himself that over a month’s travelling rations were in the depot, Cherry-Garrard started homeward, but he had by no means a sinecure in this journey back—­his dogs went wild at the start, smashed the sledge-meter adrift, fought, and would keep no definite direction, thick weather set in, and they had a fearful time marching northwards.

The season was rapidly closing, and without the practice in fog navigation which the naval officers had, the situation of the unit was alarming.  The two men got into severe pressure and found great open crevasses—­this with their dogs ravenous and out of hand.  Dimitri practically collapsed, and being unable to express himself properly in English, one can picture what Cherry-Garrard had to contend with.  Late on March 16 they won through to Hut Point in exceedingly bad condition.  Atkinson was seriously alarmed, and had two more sick men to nurse back to strength.