Page:Scott's Last Expedition, Volume 2.djvu/446

In writing the record of the second year I must give all credit to A. Cherry-Garrard. It is entirely from his diaries and from the official diary kept by him that these records are compiled. To make matters clear it would be as well to go over the events after the return of the first Southern Party. It consisted of A. Cherry-Garrard, C. S. Wright, Petty Officer Keohane, and myself. They returned to Cape Evans on January 28, 1912. The orders then were for two dog teams to proceed as far south as possible, taking into consideration the times of return of the various parties, and in order to hasten the return of the final party. The dog teams were in no manner a relief expedition and were simply meant to bring the last party home more speedily.

On our return to Cape Evans the ship had not as yet been communicated with. Indeed communication was not established until February 4, owing to bad sea ice intervening.

On February 9 we started landing stores from the ship, and in this all hands were employed.

On February 13, the sea ice having started to break