Page:Scott's Last Expedition, Volume 2.djvu/117

The edges were brilliant with pale yellow sunlight, while inside this was a broad band of orange yellow, and inside this again a narrow band of grey surrounding a large and vivid patch of emerald green. There was no trace of the violet and rose pink which characterises the opalescent cirrus clouds one sees later on when the sun is higher in the sky.

On the actual horizon was a band of rich red with purple streaks of cloud on it, giving it a very unusual magenta colour.

After lunch we had good moonlight and a good wind-swept, snow-covered surface—and though there were more of these pressure ridges abreast of Tent Island we had plenty of light to negotiate them.

We had had no wind to-day. The temp. had ranged from −27·3° at Hut Point to −31° off Glacier Tongue.

Off Inaccessible Island at 9.30 p.m. we were met by a northerly breeze of force 3, which continued until our arrival at Cape Evans. [I well remember when we got into the hut here, and we were very keen to get in without any fuss. We got right up to the door before anyone saw us, and then I simply could not get out of my harness.

As we came round the Point, Bill asked us to spread out if anyone came out of the Hut, to show we were all there—a very useful idea.]

This was the thirty-sixth day of our absence.

So ends the official Report of the Cape Crozier Party, simple and reticent to the last. But again the reader,