Page:Scott's Last Expedition, Volume 2.djvu/495

During the worst time the funnel for nearly half its length was red-hot and glowing, and the heat inside the hut was very uncomfortable.

On the 6th, with the idea of giving the members exercise, Nelson, Gran, Crean, and Archer started for Cape Royds over the Barne Glacier. Gran made a complete list of all the stores at Shackleton's quarters and the party returned on the following day.

The exercise of the mules was now carried on over a longer period, sledges were made up and they were harnessed in and drew their loads on alternate days. The only mule that gave us any serious trouble was Gulab; but Williamson throughout was most tactful and painstaking with this mule, who proved eventually to be the best beast that we had. Pyaree's capped knee started now to give us a great deal of anxiety, and up to the last week in October before she started we thought that she would be unable to go. As it was, she went on to the Barrier with a stiff foreleg, but she worked splendidly as the strain wore off and proved to be the second best mule of the lot.

Owing to the uncertain condition of the ice it was essential to remove as many stores as possible to Hut Point. On September 18 to 22, a party went there with dog teams, taking down a load of stores and with the idea of putting the hut in order. The hut had nearly been buried by the inclement season, but after a great deal of digging had been done it was made more habitable. The hut at Cape Evans had been very much snowed up by this bad season and our roof in one part began to sag