Page:Scott's Last Expedition, Volume 2.djvu/449

firmly emphasized that the dog teams were meant merely to hasten the return of the Southern Party and by no means as a relief expedition.

The next two days, February 25 and 26, were devoted to giving the dogs a much-needed rest and to making up provisions and dog food. Indeed, owing to bad weather, it would have been impossible to have made a start on these days. The following record of the journey of the two dog teams is taken entirely from Cherry-Garrard's diary:

February 26.—Since it looked fair last night, at 2 a.m. they decided to start. There was a strong wind and a fair amount of drift at the time. The dogs proceeded well to Safety Camp and then on to the biscuit depôt, 15 miles from Hut Point. There they were rested for a short while and finally started at 6 p.m., and reached Corner Camp at 10 p.m.. The dogs were working splendidly and together, and completed the distance of 30 geographical miles for the day in thick weather and with a head wind.

On February 27 they again had a head wind and low drift; they made good 10 miles and then camped for tea; proceeding afterwards over a very good surface but with bad light, they completed 18½ miles for the day, seeing but one cairn, which they only made out when it was 20 yards away. They camped in the nick of time, as a blizzard broke upon them and they had great difficulty in getting the tent pitched. The dogs pulled well and were very fit and not done up. It may be noted in passing that the difficulties of camping and breaking camp are enormously increased in bad weather when there is a unit of only two men instead of four.