had been forgotten, the depot party started out
with full loads and marched away from Glacier Tongue for seven miles,
when our first camp was made on the sea ice. To commence with I went with
Meares and No. 1 dog-sledge; the dogs were so eager and excited that they
started by bolting at a breakneck speed and, in spite of all that we
could do, took us over the glacier edge on to the sea ice. The sledge
capsized and both Meares and I were thrown down somewhat forcibly. We
caught the sledge, however, and got the dogs in hand after their initial
energy had been expended. Scott and Wilson managed their dog sledge
better as Meares gave them a quieter team.

It was about nine o'clock when we camped, Meares, Wilson, Scott and I
sharing a tent. Uncle Bill was cook, and I must say the first sledging
supper was delightful.

We went back to Glacier Tongue the next day to relay the fodder and dog
biscuit which was to be depoted. We had brought the provisions for depot
along the eve before. I went in with Meares and Nelson, who had come out
on ski to "speed the parting guest." We had a rare treat all riding in on
the dog sledge at a great pace. Had lunch on board and then Captain Scott
gave us an hour or two to ourselves, for it was the day of farewell
letters, everybody sitting round the ward-room table sucking pens or
pencils, looking very wooden-faced and nonchalant despite the fact that
we were most certainly writing to our nearest and dearest, sending
through our letters an unwritten prayer that we should be spared after
steadfastly performing our alloted tasks with credit to our flag and with
credit to those at whose feet we yearned to lay the laurels we hoped to
win. Even as I wrote my farewell letters Captain Scott, Wilson, Bowers,
and Nelson found time to write to my wife; Scott's letter may well be
included here for it shows his thoughtfulness and consideration:

"_January_, 25, 1911,
Glacier Tongue,
McMurdo Sound.

"Dear Mrs. Evans,--I thought you might be glad to have a note to tell
you how fit and well your good man is looking, his cheery optimism has
already helped me in many difficulties and at the present moment he is
bubbling over with joy at the 'delights' of his first sledge trip.

"He will have told you all the news and the ups and downs of our
history to date, and you will have guessed that he has always met the
misfortunes with a smile and the successes with a cheer, so that v