long their
tracks for half a day with this object. The motors will pick up the two
bags of forage at Hut Point--they should be placed in a convenient
position for this purpose.

The general scheme of your work in your first journey over the
Barrier has been thoroughly discussed, and the details are
contained in Table VIII of my plan of which you should have a
copy. I leave you to fix the date of your departure from Hut Point,
observing that I should like you to join me at One Ton Camp, or very
shortly after.

We cannot afford to wait. Look for a note from me at Corner Camp. The
date of your return must be arranged according to circumstances. Under
favourable conditions you should be back at Hut Point by December 19 at
latest.

After sufficient rest I should like you to transport to Hut Point such
emergency stores as have not yet been sent from Cape Evans. At this time
you should see that the Discovery Hut is provisioned to support the
Southern Party and yourself in the autumn in case the ship does not
arrive.

At some time during this month or early in January you should make your
second journey to One Ton Camp and leave there:

5 units X.S. ration.
3 cases of biscuit.
5 gallons of oil.
As much dog food as you can conveniently carry (for third journey).

This depot should be laid not later than January 19, in case of rapid
return of first unit of Southern Party.

Supposing that you have returned to Hut Point by January 13, there will
be nothing for you to do on the Southern road for at least three weeks.
In this case, and supposing the ice conditions to be favourable, I should
like you to go to Cape Evans and await the arrival of the ship.

The ship will be short-handed and may have difficulty in landing stores.
I should like you to give such assistance as you can without tiring the
dogs.

About the first week of February I should like you to start your third
journey to the South, the object being to hasten the return of the third
Southern unit and give it a chance to catch the ship. The date of your
departure must depend on news received from returning units, the extent
of the depot of dog food you have been able to leave at One Ton Camp, the
state of the dogs, etc.

Assuming that the ship will have to leave the Sound soon after the middle
of March, it looks at present as though you should aim at meeting the
returning party about March 1 in Latitude 82 or 82