were Amundsen's
tracks, and that all our dragging and straining at the trace had been in
vain.

On 4th January we took four days' provision for three men and handed over
the rest of our load to Scott.

Then we three, Lashly, Crean, and myself, marched south to Latitude 87
degrees 34 minutes S. with the Polar party, and, seeing that they were
travelling rapidly yet easily, halted, shook hands all round, and said
good-bye, and since no traces of the successful Norwegian had been found
so far, we fondly imagined that our flag would be the first to fly at the
South Pole. We gave three huge cheers for the Southern party, as they
stepped off, and then turned our sledge and commenced our homeward march
of between 750 and 800 statute miles. We frequently looked back until we
saw the last of Captain Scott and his four companions--a tiny black speck
on the horizon, and little did we think that we would be the last to see
them alive, that our three cheers on that bleak and lonely plateau summit
would be the last appreciation they would ever know.

This day the excitement was intense, for it was obvious that with five
fit men--the Pole being only 140 geographical miles away--the achievement
was merely a matter of 10 or 11 days' good sledging.

Oates's last remark was cheerful: "I'm afraid, Teddy, you won't have much
of a 'slope' going back, but old Christopher is waiting to be eaten on
the Barrier when you get there."

CHAPTER XV

RETURN OF THE LAST SUPPORTING PARTY

Scott had already made a great geographical journey in spite of adverse
weather conditions, which had severely handicapped him throughout, but he
was nevertheless behindhand in his expectations, and although the
attainment of the Pole was practically within his grasp, the long 900
mile march homeward from that spot had to be considered. It was
principally on this account that Captain Scott changed his marching
organisation and took Bowers from the last supporting party. After the
first day's homeward march I realised that the nine hours' marching day
was insufficient. We had to make average daily marches of 17 miles in
order to remain on full provisions whilst returning over that featureless
snow-capped plateau.

Although the first day northward bound was radiantly fine and the
travelling surface all that could be desired, we were compelled to push
on until quite late to ensure covering the prescribed distance--for a
short march on the first day wou