, at 4 a.m., Amundsen's men regained the shelter of
their winter quarters, when poor Scott was still only 30 miles from the
Pole on his return journey.

This undoubtedly establishes the superiority of dogs in great numbers for
Polar sledge travelling, for Scott delayed his start on account of the
inability of his ponies to face the severity of the Barrier weather
conditions before November 1. Peary in the North had already with dogs
achieved what Amundsen did in the South. Captain Amundsen has always
expressed his wonder at our performance--and in his modest way he told me
he himself could never have manhauled as Scott's men did.

Concerning the attempts to support the Southern party, Scott's
instructions were quite clear, and they were certainly obeyed. As a
matter of fact there was never any anxiety felt for the Southern party
until after March 10. They themselves never imagined they would reach Hut
Point before that time, and as the last supporting party had won through
short-handed, and after pulling in harness for 1500 miles, it was not
considered likely that the Southern party would fail--unless overtaken by
scurvy.

What actually happened was this. Stores were landed by those at the base
station on the re-arrival of the "Terra Nova," and Atkinson, who was the
senior member of those not now returning in her to civilisation, took
over the dogs according to Scott's directions. He proceeded to Hut Point
with Dimitri and the two dog teams on 13th February, and was kept in camp
by bad weather until 19th, when Crean reached the Hut and brought in the
news of my breakdown and collapse at Corner Camp. A blizzard precluded a
start for the purpose of relieving me, but this expedition was undertaken
immediately the weather abated. It was only during a temporary clear that
Lashly and I were rescued.

Considering my condition, Atkinson judged that if help could be obtained
from Cape Evans, his duty was to stay with me and save my life if
possible, and to depute Cherry-Garrard or Wright to take the dog-teams
out to One Ton Camp with Dimitri.

Scott would have preferred Wright to remain at Cape Evans, because he had
now relieved Simpson as physicist--Simpson being recalled by the Indian
Government.

So it was decided that Cherry-Garrard should take out the teams, which he
did, with twenty-four days' food for his own unit and two weeks' surplus
stores for the Southern party, with all kinds of special delicacies.

The real