Mackintosh and Stevens paid a visit to Cape Royds on August 13.  They had decided to attempt the journey over the Barne Glacier, and after crossing a crevassed area they got to the slopes of Cape Barne and thence down to the sea-ice.  They found this ice to be newly formed, but sufficiently strong for their purpose, and soon reached the Cape Royds hut.

“The outer door of the hut we found to be off,” wrote Mackintosh.  “A little snow had drifted into the porch, but with a shovel, which we found outside, this was soon cleared away.  We then entered, and in the centre of the hut found a pile of snow and ice, which had come through the open ventilator in the roof of the hut.  We soon closed this.  Stevens prepared a meal while I cleared the ice and snow away from the middle of the hut.  After our meal we commenced taking an inventory of the stores inside.  Tobacco was our first thought.  Of this we found one tin of Navy Cut and a box of cigars.  Soap, too, which now ensures us a wash and clean clothes when we get back.  We then began to look round for a sleeping-bag.  No bags were here, however, but on the improvised beds of cases we found two mattresses, an old canvas screen, and two blankets.  We took it in turns to turn in.  Stevens started first, while I kept the fire going.  No coal or blubber was here, so we had to use wood, which, while keeping the person alongside it warm, did not raise the temperature of the hut over freezing-point.  Over the stove in a conspicuous place we found a notice by Scott’s party that parties using the hut should leave the dishes clean.”

Mackintosh and Stevens stayed at the Cape Royds over the next day and made a thorough examination of the stores there.  They found outside the hut a pile of cases containing meats, flour, dried vegetables, and sundries, at least a year’s supply for a party of six.  They found no new clothing, but made a collection of worn garments, which could be mended and made serviceable.  Carrying loads of their spoils, they set out for Cape Evans on the morning of August 15 across the sea-ice.  Very weak ice barred the way and they had to travel round the coast.  They got back to Cape Evans in two hours.  During their absence Wild and Gaze had climbed Inaccessible Island, Gaze having an ear badly frost-bitten on the journey.  The tobacco was divided among the members of the party.  A blizzard was raging the next day, and Mackintosh congratulated himself on having chosen the time for his trip fortunately.

The record of the remaining part of August is not eventful.  All hands were making preparations for the sledging, and were rejoicing in the increasing daylight.  The party tried the special sledging ration prepared under my own direction, and “all agreed it was excellent both in bulk and taste.”  Three emperor penguins, the first seen since the landing, were caught on August 19.  By that time the returning sun was touching with gold the peaks