ud to Bruce from Campbell's
diary. It was a tale of altruism and grit, so simply told, full of
disappointments and privations, all of which they accepted with
fortitude and never a complaint. I had to stop reading it as it
brought tears to my eyes and made my voice thick--ditto old Bruce.)
After spending half an hour at the igloo, and after Pennell had done
some magnetic work, picked up our ice anchors and steamed away."

On 27th January, 1913, after breakfast, I called the staff together in
the wardroom and read out my plans for the future, officially assumed the
command and control of the Expedition.

I then appointed Lieuts. Campbell, Pennell, Bruce, Surgeon E.L. Atkinson,
and Mr. Francis Drake as an executive committee, with myself as
president, to assist me in satisfactorily terminating the Expedition. I
asked every member of the staff publicly if he had any questions to put,
and also if he could suggest any better combination for the committee. As
all were unanimous in the fairness of the selection, it stands. The
minutes of the proceedings were taken down and my remarks placed verbatim
among the records of the Expedition.

We left a depot of provisions at the head of the Bay, its position being
marked by a bamboo and flag.

This depot contains enough foodstuffs to enable a party of five or six
men to make their way to Butter Point, where, another large depot exists.

Early on 26th January we left these inhospitable coasts, and those who
were on deck watched the familiar rocky, snow-capped shores fast
disappearing from view. We had been happy there before disaster overtook
our Expedition, but now we were glad to leave, and some of us must have
realised that these ice-girt rocks and mountains were not meant for human
beings to associate their lives with. For centuries, perhaps for all
time, no other human being will set foot upon the Beardmore, and it is
doubtful if ever the great inland plateau will be re-visited, except
perhaps by aeroplane.

When we left it was a "good-night" scene for most of us. The great white
plateau and peaks were grimly awaiting winter, and they seemed to mock
our departing exploring ship as though glad to be left in their loneland
Silence.

* * * * *

Corrections made to Collins edition:

p.47 'Mearse' to 'Meares'
p.61 'steamiug' to 'steaming'
p.84 'Pennel' to 'Pennell'
p.85 'when the time for her' to 'when the time ca