and Crean was half in tears. They
had a featherweight sledge to go back with, of course, and ought to
run down their distance easily.

"We found we could manage our load easily, and did 6.3 miles before
lunch, completing 12.5 by 7.15 p.m. Our marching hours are nine per
day. It is a long slog with a well-loaded sledge, and more tiring for
me than the others as I have no ski. However, as long as I can do my
share all day and keep fit, it does not matter much one way or the
other.

"We had our first north wind on the Plateau to-day, and a deposit of
snow crystals made the surface like sand latterly on the march. The
sledge dragged like lead. In the evening it fell calm, and although
the temperature was 16 degrees it was positively pleasant to stand
about outside the tent and bask in the sun's rays. It was our first
calm since we reached the summit too. Our socks and other damp
articles which we hang out to dry at night became immediately covered
with long feathery crystals exactly like plumes.

"Socks, mitts, and finneskoe dry splendidly up here during the night.
We have little trouble with them compared with spring and winter
journeys. I generally spread my bag out in the sun during the 1 1/2
hours of lunch time, which gives the reindeer hair a chance to get rid
of the damage done by the deposit of breath and any perspiration
during the night...."

He seemed to have made no entry for some days after this, but he is
interesting to quote later.

The Polar Party covered the 145 geographical miles that remained in a
fortnight; on the 7th January they reached apparently the summit of the
Plateau, 10,570 ft. in Latitude 88 degrees 18 minutes 70 seconds S.
Longitude 157 degrees 21 minutes E., but their marches fell short of
expectations due to the bad surfaces met with.

Scott kept copious notes in his diary of everything that mattered. He was
delighted with his final selection, and as usual pithy and to the point
when describing. Here, for example, is something of what he wrote of his
companions:

(From Scott's Last Expedition, Vol. 1)

"WILSON.--Quick, careful and dexterous, ever thinking of some fresh
expedient to help the camp life; tough as steel on the traces, never
wavering from start to finish.

"PETTY OFFICER EVANS.--A giant worker, with a really remarkable
headpiece--he is responsible for every sledge, every sle