object of this trip was to hasten the Southern party's return
rather than to succour them.

Cherry-Garrard and Dimitri had a tough time of it. They, however, reached
One Ton Camp on March, and were held there by blizzard weather, which
made travelling impossible. Temperatures of 40 degrees below zero and
lower were experienced, the dogs were suffering acutely, and
Cherry-Garrard had to decide on the better course--to remain at One Ton
Camp, which Scott would surely make, if thus far north, with two
competent navigators in his team, or to scout and risk missing the party,
whilst using up the dogs' remaining strength. He very properly remained
at One Ton Camp and made his depot on 10th March, and after satisfying
himself that over a month's travelling rations were in the depot,
Cherry-Garrard started homeward, but he had by no means a sinecure in
this journey back--his dogs went wild at the start, smashed the
sledge-meter adrift, fought, and would keep no definite direction, thick
weather set in, and they had a fearful time marching northwards.

The season was rapidly closing, and without the practice in fog
navigation which the naval officers had, the situation of the unit was
alarming. The two men got into severe pressure and found great open
crevasses--this with their dogs ravenous and out of hand. Dimitri
practically collapsed, and being unable to express himself properly in
English, one can picture what Cherry-Garrard had to contend with. Late on
March 16 they won through to Hut Point in exceedingly bad condition.
Atkinson was seriously alarmed, and had two more sick men to nurse back
to strength.

The dogs were frost-bitten, gaunt, and quite unfit for further work that
season. Meantime during the absence of the dog teams, before there was
anxiety on Scott's account, Pennell, responding to Atkinson's letter for
help, brought the "Terra Nova" up towards Hut Point, and a party under
Rennick conveyed me in pitiful state to the ship in my sleeping-bag.

I was placed in the Captain's cabin, and given Drake and Day as nurses. I
owe them a great debt too. Atkinson had still to remain at my side, for I
was even then at death's door--and, it is only due to Atkinson's
unremitting care that I am alive to-day. He came up therefore in the ship
and participated in the search for Campbell in the vicinity of Evans's
Coves, but after several unsuccessful attempts the "Terra Nova"
temporarily abandoned her objective and returned t